Farmers on the Channel island warn that a protest by French fisherman could delay shipments to the UK. The blockade at Jersey’s port capital St Helier threatens to disrupt exports of Jersey Royal potatoes just as its harvesting season gets underway. Louis Ashworth reports for The Telegraph that farmers have warned that a protest by French fisherman may delay shipments to the UK, potentially leading to higher prices and shortages in British supermarkets.
France and the UK have both dispatched military vessels into waters close to the Channel island, as a war of words between the countries sparked by a row over fishing rights escalates.
Nigel Holliday, commercial director at the Jersey Royal Company – which accounts for almost two-thirds of the annual crop – said it would have to cancel orders and pause production if the ferry from St Helier to Portsmouth is unable to travel.
The blockade could be a “major disruption”, Mr Holliday said, with the potential for lost sales later in the season if shipments could not quickly resume. “Jersey Royals don’t have a very long shelf life,” he said. “We just have to assess the crop and see how we manage over the next 48 hours. It all depends how long this is going to go on for.”
Source: The Telegraph. Read the full story here
Photo: Jersey Royal potatoes waiting to be planted at Manor Farm, in St Oeun, Jersey | Credit: Clara Molden
