THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD

The end of August sees the maincrop potato harvest in full swing. The spud first arrived in Europe in the 16th century, brought back from South America by explorers. Today, thanks to selective breeding and the influence of different soil types, there are thousands of potato varieties, about 500 of which are found in the UK.

A survey by the NFU in the 1980s revealed a north/south divide in our taste for potatoes. Northerners appeared to prefer a floury variety, while southerners voted for a waxy tuber.

It is estimated that the average Brit eats 105kg of potatoes per year, with our national favourite the roasting and chipping staple, the King Edward.

It’s not only we humans who love a spud. A sure-fire hotspot to shoot early season ducks is over recently harvested potato fields. No study has been made to ascertain which variety ducks favour.