HERITAGE POTATOES IN THE SPOTLIGHT (DECEMBER 2007)

Sales of Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes, including varieties dating back to the middle of the 19th century, have enjoyed a boost following a cookery programme on national TV and an ongoing sales promotion in Booths supermarkets in North West England.

The distinguished spuds, which are grown by husband-and-wife Anthony and Lucy Carroll at Tiptoe Farm in north Northumberland’s picturesque Till Valley, featured in Sky UKTV’s Food Market Kitchen presided over by chefs Anton Edelmann and Matthew Fort, and have been spotlighted by Booths in their 26 supermarkets running from Keswick to Knutsford.

“The publicity we got helped push up our sales,” says Lucy, who supplied a wide range of produce to both the stores and the telly people. Among the varieties sampled during the marketing exercise were Yukon Gold, a relatively new potato dating back to 1980, Red King Edward (1916), Arran Victory (1918), British Queen (1894), Highland Burgundy (1936), Ratte (1872). Dunbar Rover (1936), Forty Fold (1836) and Pink Fir Apple (1850).

The company is also likely to enjoy another boost in January when it is featured in an episode of the Hairy Bikers’cookery programme on BBC Television.

Carroll’s Heritage Potatoes started modestly in the small kitchen garden at Tiptoe Farm which stands eight miles west of Berwick and six miles south of the Border at Coldstream. Anthony and Lucy enjoyed growing, cooking and eating unusual varieties of potatoes, so five years ago they decided to grow them commercially on a five-acre plot. From six types they have expanded to over 20 on about 50 acres. The potatoes are picked, graded, stored and packed on the farm, and sold not only in the UK but overseas.

The company has a mail order service for its produce and potato seed. Further information from www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk