The Genuine Jersey, Jersey Royal Potato Growing Competition 2024 is generously sponsored by Homefields.
The GJPA Management Committee is very grateful to Paul and Catherine Conway at Homefields for their commitment to local produce and their support with this competition.
Homefields will deliver the growing kits (compost, fertiliser and two Jersey Royal seed tubers) to all Primary Schools week comencing Tuesday 5th February.
The competition has two categories:
1. Greatest weight of Jersey Royal new potatoes grown in one growing kit.
2. Highest number of Jersey Royal new potatoes grown in one growing kit.
We're asking all Primary Schools to record the weight and number of Jersey Royal new potatoes in each growing kit (excluding the two seed potatoes) on Tuesday 14th May and to submit their top three results in each category - please use the Submit Result Button below.
The results table, in each competition, will be available through the below links once the winners have been informed.
Thank you all for taking part.
The winning school in each category will receive their certificate in front of local media representatives and Parish Constables on Thursday 16th May at St Lawrence Parish Halll.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any further information John@GenuineJersey.com
The Growing Kits
Each participant/class receives a growing kit which includes; soil, fertiliser and two Jersey Royal tubers - please keep your plastic containers.
Please click here to view or download the Genuine Jersey, Jersey Royal Growing Competition - Growing Guide.
Please click here to view or download the Genuine Jersey, Jersey Royal Potato Growing Competition - Teacher Resource Pack.
The Teacher Resource Pack includes links to useful websites as well as growing tips.
GENUINE JERSEY, JERSEY ROYAL POTATO GROWING COMPETITION – its origins
In 2007 the Jersey Royal Company launched an Island-side competition to see which primary school could grow the heaviest weight of Jersey Royals.
The competition has grown in popularity and number of participants each year and in 2016 we delivered 301 growing kits to all of the island's 32 Primary Schools and estimate that 7,525 primary school children participated.
The campaign is now organised by the Association, sponsored by The Channel Islands Co-op and supported by Belles Fleur Nursery and The Jersey Royal Company.
The key aims are to:
• Increase awareness of healthy eating,
• Involve youngsters in growing their own food,
• Educate the next generation about the provenance of the Jersey Royal new potato.
The competition is designed to be a fun, hands-on challenge which gives young children a better understanding of how food is produced, where it comes from and to learn about Jersey’s local food culture.
The Competition
Schools (and the Constable from each Parish) are challenged to grow the heaviest crop and greatest number of Jersey Royal new potatoes using a 'growing kit' and in addition are judged separately on the display of class work carried out during the competition.
Competition statistics
The competition is structured in such a way that schools can enter a class, a year group or the entire school depending on the take up by teaching staff.
- In 2007 1,875* pupils took part from 75 classes
- In 2008 2,575* pupils took part from 103 classes
- In 2009 2,950* pupils took part from 117 classes
- In 2010 4,775* pupils took part from 191 classes
- In 2011 5,300* pupils took part from 212 classes
- In 2012 6,000* pupils took part from 30 Primary Schools
- In 2013 6,450* pupils took part from all 32 Primary Schools
- In 2014 6,850* pupils took part from all 32 Primary Schools
- In 2015 7,050* pupils took part from 31 Primary Schools
- In 2016 7,525* pupils took part from all 32 Primary Schools
- In 2017 7,550* pupils took part from 30 Primary Schools
- In 2018 8,025* pupils took part from all 33 Primary Schools
- In 2019 8,375* pupils took part from 32 Primary Schools
- In 2020 over 8,000* pupils took part from all 33 Primary Schools
- In 2021 over 8,000* pupils took part from all 33 Primary Schools
- In 2022 over 8,000* pupils took part from all 33 Primary Schools
(*working on an average of 25 pupils per class)
Past Winners
To read about the winners please refer to the news pages on this web site - or contact John Garton
