Leading Northern Ireland potato packer Wilson’s Country has harvested the first of their Comber Earliesfor sale in supermarkets this week.

Among farms producing the new potatoes which have been accredited as one of Northern Ireland’s EU PGI products.

Wilson’s Country agronomist Stuart Meredith joined grower Hugh Chambers, a county Down farmer, as the harvesting work got underway. Wilson’s Country is a Food NI member.

“The recent warm weather, which was preceded by heavy rain, has encouraged tremendous growth within all potato crops,” Stuart explained.

“As a result, growers are digging earlies this year at around the same time as was the case in 2020. Back in May, crops were at least three weeks behind where they normally would be.”

Dunluce is the main early variety grown by Hugh Chambers. He also grows the variety Accord, which will be available later in the season. This year’s crops were planted out during the first week of March.

“The crops look extremely healthy,” Hugh added.

“Trial digs indicated that the dry matters of the potatoes are high, meaning that eating quality should be very good. 

“It’s too early to tell yet what overall yields will be like.”

Hugh Chambers grows early and main crop potatoes as part of the overall arable rotation followed on the farm.

Potato consumption has boomed on the back of the home cooking experiences enjoyed by so by many thousands of people in homes across Northern Ireland over the last number of months.

This trend may well give a further boost to the traditional demand for Comber earlies at this time of the year. 

The iconic potatoes have always been regarded as a delicacy by local consumers. This has been officially reflected in the attainment of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for these unique potatoes under an EU scheme which promotes and protects names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Wilson’s Country managing director Lewis Cunningham continued: “Comber Earlies will retain their PGI status. This will continue to set them apart as a unique product with distinct eating characteristics from Northern Ireland. 

He added: “Early potatoes have a unique flavour. They can be quickly boiled in their skins and enjoyed as part of a main course or included in salads. 

“Consumers want to get back to basics and potatoes allow them to do this in very satisfying manner.”

Irwin’s Bakery is offering families across Northern Ireland a summer of fun with Decathlon through an on-pack Muffins promotion with £5,000 of Decathlon vouchers up for grabs.

To mark the start of the partnership and the school holidays, Irwin’s and Decathlon will also hold a ‘muffin giveaway’ day in Decathlon’s Holywood store, with activities and prizes on offer on Saturday 3^rd July.

Ross Irwin, Director, Irwin’s Bakery commented: “We’re delighted to run this summer promotion to mark the end of the school year. This partnership is all about families, keeping kids happy throughout the summer months with our popular and versatile muffins, and keeping them entertained with the vast array of fun sporting and outdoor goods available at Decathlon. As Northern Ireland’s number one brand of muffins*, we’re expecting even more packets to fly off the shelves this summer with hungry kids at home during the day and this great promotion as an extra incentive!”

Matthew Ferguson, Marketing & Event Manager, Decathlon Belfast 

“The team at Decathlon Belfast are delighted to have partnered with Irwin’s Bakery in order to accommodate a fun packed summer of sport alongside hungry family days out.  We look forward to seeing you on the local playing field or back in store soon – let the games begin!”

The promotional packs of Irwin’s Muffins will display a code to enter into an online competition to be in with a chance to win vouchers for Decathlon. Packs will be available in stores across Northern Ireland from 14^th June 2021.

With New Limited Edition Lough Neagh Artisans Recipe Book

Ahead of International Picnic Day on 18 June, a newly formed group of Artisan producers from Lough Neagh have collaborated to develop a unique, limited edition recipe book, showcasing produce from around the region.

Spearheaded by Eimear Kearney of Lough Neagh Partnership, Eimear said; “What better way to celebrate International Picnic Day than by creating a tasty picnic from the new Lough Neagh Artisans recipe book and taking the family out to enjoy a picnic of Lough Neagh delicacies along our beautiful shoreline. 

“The book is full of delicious recipes inspired by the wonderful ingredients available from artisans which readers can recreate in their own kitchens to bring home the flavours of Lough Neagh.”

Working closely with Bronagh Duffin of Bakehouse in Bellaghy to highlight the produce, the book features 22 recipes including Scribe Wheaten Bread, Brecart Barmbrack, Fisherman’s Smoked Eel Pate, Creggan Caesar Salad and Crosskeys Apple Tart, all perfect for a picnic especially when accompanied by Symphonia Sloe Gin.

Bronagh said; “This has been a really exciting project for me and I especially enjoyed experimenting with the ingredients in my purpose built kitchen, developing recipes which I know families will enjoy cooking and eating in the comfort of their own homes.”

This Lough Neagh Partnership project has been funded under the Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership Programme and is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Lough Neagh Artisans are Annie’s Delights, Bakehouse, Crosskeys Inn, Harnett’s Oils, Hillstown Brewery and Farm Shops, Lock Keeper’s Cottage, Noreen’s Nettles, Rosehill House and Symphonia Spirits.

If you would like to download a copy of Lough Neagh Artisans Recipe Book please visit www.loughneaghartisans.com, or if you wish to obtain a printed copy of the Recipe Book please email info@loughneaghartisans.comand follow Lough Neagh Artisans on facebook at www.facebook.com/loughneaghartisansand on instagram at www.instagram.com/loughneaghartisans. #LoughNeaghArtisans

Symphonia are delighted to introduce Symphonia Apple Rum, their first foray outside the world of gin.

Back in November 2020, they produced a limited edition 200ml Apple rum. They were blown away by the response and sold their batch of 500 btls within 3 weeks. Not long after, they were delighted to hear that their ‘lockdown project’ had actually won bronze medal at the world rum awards and that it had been selected as one of the top ten rums in the world!  At this point they knew that they had to add this to the range and decided to create a 500ml bottle with a beautiful new design. 

Caribbean white rum has been redistilled with a local Irish botanical, adding a gentle spiciness, then infused with sweet Jonagold apples from County Armagh, the Orchard of Ireland,making this spirit taste like apple pie in a bottle.

It is important for them to showcase the abundance of local Northern Irish produce that is on our doorstep whilst at the same time, being mindful of reducing food miles and they started to think about what they could do with Jonagold apples. These are a cross between Jones and Golden Delicious which grow locally. They thought these delicious, sweet dessert apples would be better paired with a rum, rather than a gin. 

The final inspiration came as they were exploring botanicals from the local countryside. One of these stood out, their sophisticated chemical analysis showed it had flavour molecules closely related to those of nutmeg and cloves and we knew these spicy flavours would be the perfect partner to the sweet Jonagold apples.

Their Apple Rum is truly innovative, previously rum has often been about the spirit being the dominant element with oak ageing, or heavy spicing with vanilla. Here the apples are the star of the show, and rum is the soft spirit element that plays the supporting role. 

You will find Symphonia Apple Rum across the province in various bars, restaurants, hotels and on shelves in Supervaluestores along with a selected number of premium offsales.

Distributed exclusively by Drinksinc.

Find out more at www.symphoniaspirits.com or www.woodlabdistillery.com