Wet spring slowing spud harvest

Jersey Benne potatoes are dug and picked by a large team of workers near Totara, North Otago, on Friday. Photos: Sally Brooker

North Otago soils are offering up their famous delicacies again. Jersey Benne potatoes are being harvested from the rich Totara soils south of Oamaru - when the rain allows, that is.

The extremely wet spring has created plenty of down time for the crews of seasonal workers employed by one of the biggest producers, Armstrong and Co.

Peter Armstrong, who took over the business from his father, Bruce, said there had been so much rain through the growing period that staff had forgotten how to shift irrigation pipes.

This year's early crops were ready at "about the right time" and looked to be "reasonably good", he said.

The moisture seemed to have given them a sweeter flavour, which was earning favourable feedback from consumers, Mr Armstrong said.

About 95% of Armstrong and Co's Jersey Bennes were sent to a packhouse in Rakaia, where they were packaged and distributed to supermarkets and stores throughout the country.

Because the paddocks were so wet during spring, he had not been able to sow all his crops.

He still had 6.5 tonnes of Jersey Bennes to plant, and hoped to be supplying new potatoes through until March.

The local soils were responsible for giving North Otago Jersey Bennes their superior taste, he said. The district had always been known for growing great vegetables, but it was becoming hard to tell between a cauliflower grown in Nelson or Oamaru. That was not the case with the Jersey Benne.

He believed North Otago's were the world's best, with the possible exception of those grown where the variety originated, on the island of Jersey in the English Channel.

"I started picking them when I was 2. I had my own account with the local market when I was 7.

"I just love my potatoes."