Latest figures show 31,000 tonnes of Jersey Royal potatoes were exported with a value of around £29 million, £1.45 million higher than the previous year, although the spuds were being sold for less and the gross return per tonne fell by five per cent.
And it seems that imported semen and a good feed has been working wonders on our Jerseys. The yield per cow has risen by ten per cent since 2010 and milk production was up 1 million litres on 2013, to 14 million litres.
Sales at Jersey Dairy rose from £12.7 million in 2013 to £14 million last year to meet the growing international demand for UHT milk and milk products.
Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said: “2014 saw the acquisition of the Jersey Royal Potato Company by Greenvale, part of the Produce Investment Group, one of the UK’s foremost potato businesses. Greenvale is bringing all its knowledge, experience and expertise in the UK market to develop the Jersey Royal potato brand further.
“In addition, the global interest in Jersey’s dairy products is great news and reflects well on the work that’s gone on over the last few years to raise farm standards and meet the stringent import requirements of our international customers. That work will continue and I hope to see the industry go from strength to strength.”
There’s still a big demand for local cider apples and the area of top fruit now stands at 236 vergées although fewer vergées are farmed organically – down from 1,325 vergées in 2013 to 1,008 vergées.
Senator Farnham said: “On a smaller but similarly positive scale, we now have an increased range of high quality ciders, spirits and juices being produced in the Island based on cider apple production. This is just the kind of niche product that Jersey does well and which we’ve been pushing for to help diversify the industry.”
It hasn’t been such a great year for organic farmers who are still struggling to make a living.
Senator Farnham said: “The organic sector is going through a difficult period but the Department of the Environment and the Jersey Organic Association are working on an Organic Action Plan based on the strategic review of the sector.”