Spud-lovers fork out for early season jersey bennes

Lindsay Smith digs up his first jersey benne potatoes of the season yesterday. Picture / Otago Daily Times

Otago's equivalent to the first Bluff oysters - jersey benne new potatoes - went on the market yesterday for the first time this season.

The new potatoes are initially selling at $10 a kilogram, slightly more expensive than the $9 for the first last year, which were 10 days later.

Prices are expected to fall to around $8 later next week.

But at present the potatoes are available through only one outlet - Brydone Growers shop in the old Totara Hall on State Highway 1.

Yesterday, Lindsay Smith was individually selecting the most mature potato plants in his new crop and hand-digging the first for his shop.

The first six boxes went so fast he had to go out and dig more.

He has traditionally been first on to the market with the new season's crop of the traditional early Christmas potato, which is not usually widely available until late November.

Although strong winds have knocked the tops of the crop around, a lack of frost combined with the north-facing slope and unique micro-climate have resulted in the early sales.

The organic crop was planted on the second week in June, just after a cold snap hit the region.

"Over the past two weeks people have been coming into the shop ... looking for the first new potatoes."

Later, mechanical harvesting will be used and the price is expected to drop to about $5 a kg as more reach the market.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES