As the building of the Sarpo brand and its commercialization continues all six varieties were present and in demand at the RHS Potato Festival

The whole of the hall was given over to the humble spud with well over 150 varieties available via several stands  the most significant of which was the Pennard Plants stand which was huge and outstanding.  It’s head honcho Chris Smith was much in demand for talks on growing and tasting.  The demonstration area overflowed into the hall and the questions just kept coming.  Chris was unflappable and we all learnt something new!!

The Pennard stand had its potatoes colour coded depending on whether the spud in question was an early, first early etc.  But hats off to Chris, who put the Sarpo family into its own purple
livery to distinguish its particular characteristics (does that make them royal!!).  We were at the show to talk to customers about the varieties, hand out our new leaflets and learn what Londoners wanted from their home grown potatoes.  The demand was for earlier varieties with a waxy texture and were able to help with  Sarpo Una and Sarpo Kifli.  It will certainly help in terms of future breeding though the demand for an early blight resistant variety is questionable.

Sarpo’s and other heritage varieties

Sarpo Branding and bags were in evidence and there was excellent recognition within the potato aficionados at the show.