Farm gate potato’s

[Comptonfarmer]

Granddad used to grow 20 acres of spuds, mostly marfonas and estimas but also red York’s and king Edwards. He used to manage to sell all of them either at the gate or at the local car boot for 5 pound 25kg, we still have all the kit and I was wondering what the legalities of doing this now is? We used to feed all the little spuds to the stores so was quite handy... does anyone still do it?

 

[David.]

We used to grow similar amount and sell some at the door.
Don't think legality is the problem, more that the old folks who were the main buyers have all gone. Current generation pick up 7.5 kg washed in Morrisons or Aldi for £1.00 and don't want "filthy" potatoes in the sink.
Tax man loves door sales, whatever you legitimately and truthfully declare, he will expect you to be knocking off similar amount on the side when you get investigated.
Came to the conclusion it's not worth the hassle anymore because the small local wholesalers who used to take the slack are no longer there, or only want a ton here and there where they used to take ten, because even their job has evolved into prepped veg for nursing homes and the remaining school canteens.

 

[phillipe]

The spud man here sells 12.5 kg for 3.50 a bag ,he grows wilga ,good spuds

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I hate dirty spuds sorry . those Fen Spuds are black as coal

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Get 25kg bags from the local grower at 8 a time at the mo'. He says that they are not going to last much beyond beginning of March.

 

[Exfarmer]

last bag of dirty potatoes I bought were a disgrace.
Showed me a lovely sample when I got home and unzipped the bag a realised why no one buys from farm gate
he had really seen me coming.
Worse thing was we had quite a chat about the trade and such and I was feeling sorry for him!
if he was on this forum I would certainly name him!
My wife buys all washed today and I moan at the price

 

[Lindell]

Local small grower sells 25 kgs wilja for £5. Also digs them early in season and sells in small bags as "earlies ".

Always plenty of demand for them around here. Always sells out.

 

[David.]

I'd have taken them back, his staff had obviously had a lapse of concentration.

 

[Comptonfarmer]

We never washed ours but our soil just fell off them especially after they were stored then riddled... so general consensus is it’s not worth it anymore? Shame as they would’ve fit in nicely with a grass, barley rotation

 

[Flat 10]

We never washed ours but our soil just fell off them especially after they were stored then riddled... so general consensus is it’s not worth it anymore? Shame as they would’ve fit in nicely with a grass, barley rotation

Try 4or 5 acres and see how you go. If you have all the gear has to be worth a whirl

 

[Boohoo]

It's not worth the hassle, you'll never compete with supermarkets, rice, pasta, low carb diets and people who are too lazy to cook. We used to grow just for ourselves then the last few years I've planted a few extra to sell to friends and neighbours but this year I'm going back to just enough for ourselves.

 

[Netherfield]

IN the 70s and 80s we could sell up to 5 tonnes a week through the farm shop, above half in 25kg bags, by mid 90s that had dropped to about 2 tonnes a week with no more than 10x 25kg, the loss of dirty spuds was taken up by washed or even prepared spuds, the generations that bought them have now gone, my daughter or nieces would never buy dirty and the nieces don't know what to do if I give them some home grown earlies.

 

[David.]

It's not worth the hassle, you'll never compete with supermarkets, rice, pasta, low carb diets and people who are too lazy to cook. We used to grow just for ourselves then the last few years I've planted a few extra to sell to friends and neighbours but this year I'm going back to just enough for ourselves.

It's funny how you have more "friends" when you have a few ton of spuds.
But seriously, I just used to like the way they make the world go round, better than giving somebody "a drink" for a favour etc. Not so much fior the cash for the reason given above.

 

[glasshouse]

IN the 70s and 80s we could sell up to 5 tonnes a week through the farm shop, above half in 25kg bags, by mid 90s that had dropped to about 2 tonnes a week with no more than 10x 25kg, the loss of dirty spuds was taken up by washed or even prepared spuds, the generations that bought them have now gone, my daughter or nieces would never buy dirty and the nieces don't know what to do if I give them some home grown earlies.

FFS

 

[7610 super q]

If I lived near population, I'd give it a go. Can't be worse than attempting to supply fussy supermarkets, can it ?....
As said above, the game has changed completely, with washed spuds coming out of a cold store AYR.
This ain't the 1960's anymore.

 

[Exfarmer]

Sadly the generation who go to starbucks for breakfast are not going to wash potatoes

 

[Highland Mule]

I can't agree - people want real food, and are prepared to pay for it. As farmers, the assumption is that the supermarket bland fare is what the public want, but my experience is anything but - give them a story and a bit of rustic produce, and the public will buy it.

One word of advice for the OP, if you're getting sign writing done - the plural of potato is potatoes.

 

[Exfarmer]

One word of advice for the OP, if you're getting sign writing done - the plural of potato is potatoes.

You never heard of a grocer’s apostrophe?

 

[Comptonfarmer]

You never heard of a grocer’s apostrophe?

Potatoes feels American

 

[Bongodog]

Local farm shop appears to do a good trade in potatoes, all sold unwashed. Home consumption of whole potatoes has fallen hugely so the demand for 25kg bags has almost evaporated, they sell most of theirs in smaller packs 7.5kg and 3kg. I recall I paid £3.50 for 7.5kg of Picasso last week, rather less than Supermarket prices and plenty of big ones for baking amongst them. Thats nearly £500/tonne so worth a go surely ?
The other factor is that you need to educate the public that a 7.5kg bag destined to last a few weeks needs to be unwashed, if they are washed and poly bagged they don't keep well enough. The last factor is location, great if you have a reasonably busy road going past, but no one is going to make a 2 mile detour down a single track road for £3.50 bag of taters.
As you mention you've got the machinery already, whats it going to cost you to try an acre or two ? Seed, fertiliser and sprays, get the scales calibrated and an initial purchase of some paper sacks. worst that can happen is the cattle get to eat them.