Spuds u Like –

Ayrshire New Potatoes in Protected Class

Ayrshire new potatoes are rightly famous for their terrific quality and distinctive flavour and now they are in line for protection under a law called Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) which is a great way to make sure you get the real McCoy. There are more than 70 foods in the UK that are PGI protected. They are joined in the fight for special status now by Campaigners for Stornoway black pudding, Dundee cake and Forfar bridies who are looking  to secure EU protected status in Brussels.

The Taste of Scotland

Achieving protected status would place Ayrshire new potatoes and Stornoway black pudding alongside the likes of Arbroath smokies ,Stilton cheese and Parma ham. Only three other types of potato in the UK, including the Jersey Royal, already have the PGI mark. And did you know that new potatoes are much better for you than old floury ones. Old spuds have a high GI weighting, that’s the glycemic index, implicated in type 2 diabetes. So out with the old and in with the new I say, because let’s face it I am partial to a spud or two.

Spuds We Like

There has been commercial potato farming in Ayrshire since 1793. The sandy soil and milder weather makes Ayrshire ideal for ‘earlies’  and spud fans everywhere acknowledge their unique taste, partly from the seaweed from Ayrshire beaches used as fertiliser. The locals studied the farmers of Jersey and learned how to get the earliest crop possible, even so far north.

The Right Stuff

Now we here at James Pirie are all in favour of Scottish produce and would like to draw you attention to the likes of the Just Slate Company and Shearer’s Candles. I know they are relatively new to us and indeed I found just the other day that we already have some Just Slate stuff in the house and I can vouch for its quality. The missus uses it under the slow cooker. Well I never!

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/the-just-slate-company.html