Bye bye KP, here comes BQ.

It's about that time of year when housewives across Ireland start to feel something in their bones, an inkling, a nagging sense that something is about to happen, a change is in the air. This sixth sense will initially cause a trembling of trepidation throughout the body and ultimately culminate in rampant excitement at the realisation that the times they are a changing, the new season potatoes are coming.

The half finished sack of old season Kerrs Pink in the corner of the kitchen will be the last of its kind for a few months whilst the British Queens will soon reign supreme in the everyday lives of the traditional Irish household. Interestingly enough the humble British Queen variety of potato was rebranded as 'Irish Queen' in border areas to try and boost sales against any misguided patriotism or anti-British sentiments affecting purchasing patterns. But that's by the by. When it comes to getting the dinner's carbohydrates correct, politics goes out the window.



Working as an English insider in the Irish vegetable industry I have witnessed this uncontrollable desire that is built in to the very genetics of this proud nation. Only yesterday the local King of new Cork potatoes, the grower of the fabled Ballycotton British Queens, entered our office to the sound of a stampede of feet rushing to check out the first 10kg bag of spuds picked from the field that very morning. Picking myself off the floor and dusting myself down I was treated to a chorus of oohs and aahs and informed opinions such as follows...

"Grand size so they are"
"And with a mature skin too"
"Straight from the ground they are, it's a fine sample"
"And how are they cooking?"
"Well they're not balls of flour yet but sure tis early days you know?"
"Yes yes of course of course."

The next few weeks will see the price of this staple good driven down by more and more local suppliers entering the market and hitting up all the grocery shops in the country. Opinions and comparisons will be drawn between Irish shopkeepers and their customers before the treasured objects are carried home and cooked up for the family. Feedback will be quick and straight to the point as no feelings are spared when it comes to getting the potato supply just so. Get it right and they'll be flying out the door, get it wrong and it's the customers who'll be leaving in their droves.