Asda is repeating last year's experiment with locally sourced new potatoes in a handful of its stores.
The first Cornish earlies were delivered direct into Asda's Falmouth store last week and are due to appear shortly at shops in Bodmin and St Austell. Stores in Pembrokeshire will also take new potato supplies directly from local growers in an arrangement with Asda supplier Fenmarc Produce. Asda potato buyer Drew Kirk said they were the first new season British potatoes on sale. "With their unique taste and texture they give the customer a fantastic start to the domestic season," he said.
It seems unlikely the arrangement will be rolled out more widely because of logistical complications.
A spokesman for Fenmarc said: "It's not so simple to do elsewhere, because the farm needs to have a packhouse attached."
In all, growers will supply 300t of Cornish and 2,500t of Pembrokeshire potatoes direct to stores. They are priced at 74p/kg, the same as standard new potatoes.
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