Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2021 23 • JRC is a completely integrated farming business, growing, harvesting, grading, packing and distributing Jersey Royal new potatoes. • It sells to retailers (multi-year contracts), wholesalers, third party packers and distributors and processors. • It is responsible for circa 60% of the total Jersey Royal market and the largest organic farmer on the island. • JRC farmss 8,300 vergées (3,700 ac / 1500 ha) across 1,600 fields. • It employs 40 full-time staff and circa 350 seasonal workers, housing all seasonal workers in heavily subsidised accommodation. • The company manages and works with two contract growers. “The business model has changed in the past 10 to 12 years, moving from being solely a growing and primary grading business to an integrated model.” A UNITED FRONT The Jersey Royal Company was put together in its current format between 2003 and 2004 when the leading marketing and farming businesses on the island united to form one company. Mike said the driving force behind this move was to unite the industry and protect the value of the brand, Jersey Royal new potatoes. In 2014 JRC was bought by Produce Investments, which includes Greenvale potatoes. “The business model has changed in the past 10 to 12 years, moving from being solely a growing and primary grading business to an integrated model, being the grower, in charge of harvesting, primary grading, washing and pre-packing, selling to wholesalers and retailers and organising the distribution,” said Mike. “Integrated farm management is a real driver throughout the business as we continually look to develop, improve and streamline practices to be more efficient, and at the same time better manage the environment in which we work.” “The structure of the Island’s farming sector has changed dramatically, from hundreds of individual farms to around 15 dairy farms and 12 potato farms.” Q: What challenges is the industry facing at the moment and what more could be done to meet and overcome these? MR: The obvious financial pressures are ever present but focusing on costs and smarter ways of farming means that we can have a bright future. That does not mean that this needs to be at a cost to the environment and working smarter means adapting technology to be more efficient but also moving towards being environmentally sustainable. Q: What tips do you have for the future generation? MR: You don’t have to be brought up on a farm and inherit to become successful. There are plenty of opportunities and schemes to get into farming. There are also many career opportunities from hands- on farming, to technical, engineering, IT, finance paths in the industry. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE