The potatoes are grown on approximately 16,500 vergees (there are 2.25 vergees to one acre, so this equates to 7,500 acres).Potatoes planted on the early slopes are hand lifted, with mechanical lifters used only for the later, flatter fields.

The fields on slopes near the coast – known as côtils – are so steep that almost all the work is done by hand.Besides being unique to Jersey, the Jersey Royal enjoys EU protection of designation of origin in much the same way that France was granted sole use of the word ‘champagne’. The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is an official recognition granted by the EU to protect the product as it is produced in its country of origin. In other words, if a batch of potatoes doesn’t have the PDO it isn’t the genuine article.