Jersey Royal Spuds dont taste the same???

Livelongandprosper

A._Badger wrote: »

This is a pet beef of mine. All potatoes, without exception, should never be left exposed to the light. That's what makes them go green and poisonous. I wish more shop managers were diligent about this.

Nowt to do with the managers, it's the buyers, bowing to consumer pressure, the consumers apparently wanting washed clean spuds

Back then supermarkets weren't open 24/7 and when something run out, it ran out till the next delivery date. None of this having everything available all the time

A._Badger

Livelongandprosper wrote: »

Nowt to do with the managers, it's the buyers, bowing to consumer pressure, the consumers apparently wanting washed clean spuds

Back then supermarkets weren't open 24/7 and when something run out, it ran out till the next delivery date. None of this having everything available all the time

I have stood in supermarkets and read the instructions printed on the boxes and polythene sheeting designed to be folded over to protect the contents overnight. Far too often, nobody bothers.

I'm not talking about pre-packed washed potatoes but loose boxed potatoes, both washed and unwashed. They should be protected from the light and too often they aren't.

Livelongandprosper

A._Badger wrote: »

I have stood in supermarkets and read the instructions printed on the boxes and polythene sheeting designed to be folded over to protect the contents overnight. Far too often, nobody bothers.

I'm not talking about pre-packed washed potatoes but loose boxed potatoes, both washed and unwashed. They should be protected from the light and too often they aren't.

But then how can they be displayed when the store is open 24/7?

I agree that potatoes need to be covered, as we did back in the days when late night shopping was just 3 nights a week till 8pm

Fruit used to come in ripe and ready to eat as well. There was no cold storage for fruit or veg, if we had a particularly hot spell, we would have to beg storage in a provisions chiller for berries , no longer allowed because of cross contaminant fears. We ordered in from central office what we estimated we would sell in a day. Fresh produce, provisions and fish/meat were delivered only Tuesday to Friday.

The demand we make for 24/7 shopping and everything available around the clock, gives us the tasteless pap we pay premium prices for

A._Badger

Livelongandprosper wrote: »

But then how can they be displayed when the store is open 24/7?

I agree that potatoes need to be covered, as we did back in the days when late night shopping was just 3 nights a week till 8pm

Fruit used to come in ripe and ready to eat as well. There was no cold storage for fruit or veg, if we had a particularly hot spell, we would have to beg storage in a provisions chiller for berries , no longer allowed because of cross contaminant fears. We ordered in from central office what we estimated we would sell in a day. Fresh produce, provisions and fish/meat were delivered only Tuesday to Friday.

The demand we make for 24/7 shopping and everything available around the clock, gives us the tasteless pap we pay premium prices for

Not all stores are open 24 hours a day. Where they aren't (the majority) they should be covered and they frequently are not.

I'm not disputing your point about storage and delivery issues but with Jersey potatoes, which is where we came in, the answer, to quote Round The Horne, lies 'in the soil'. Most particularly how they are grown and fed, more than how they are shipped and sold. Any farmer, market gardener, or horticulturalist will know this but some choose to ignore it because of... money.

[Deleted User]

Used to be that you had King Edwards or Whites through the winter then Jersey Royals in the spring, so tender you could rub them with your fingers to remove some of the skin and these were replaced by Cyprus ones which were large and made nice jacket spuds or chips before the next crop of King Edwards or Whites

Doc_N

Totally agree - complete junk, and have been for years. A triumph of marketing over reality.

For me, though, Jersey Royal means one thing only - avoid.

System

I think its something to do with them packaged with no soil in a plastic bag.

I have seen them loose with some mud left on them - unsure if they are better than the packaged ones.

A._Badger

ScarletMarble wrote: »

I think its something to do with them packaged with no soil in a plastic bag.

I have seen them loose with some mud left on them - unsure if they are better than the packaged ones.

No, they do not taste appreciably any better. I've explained why this is and it is an area I have some expertise in.

Buggins

Well being optimistic, it's saving me a small fortune by no longer buying early Jersey Royals but it is sad because they were special!

collectors

I was in Tesco's earlier on & & knowing the JR are not very good i would try the suggested Majorcan spuds, but none in stock. So i noticed a pack of "Norfolk Keepers". I don't know if these are just a local spud as this is where i live or if they are widely available. But well worth getting. I just had some with a knob of butter & really enjoyed them.