It’s a Grower Babylon Growers Reporting Good Yields

It’s a

Babylon Growers Reporting Good Yields

Babylon is the new chipping variety from Agrico. Bred in Holland, Babylon was selected from a background with a history in producing the finest quality fries.

Babylon was selected in 2006 and the variety is developing in the fresh chip sector and also in the processing market for “Roasties” production.

In the field the Babylon growers have reported good yields and storability with crops stored throughout the season until June, ensuring continuity of supply to customers from October to June.

The fry quality has been excellent, as good as, and even better than Agria, being the customer feedback.

Peter Legge at A.L. Legge Farms is well known to Chippy Chat readers, he was the host farmer at the Isle of Ely Chippy Chat Open Day in 2021. Pete has been growing Babylon for the last two seasons on his farm at Southery in Norfolk.

Pete commented that all his Babylon crop has been well received by his fish and chip shop customers with initial trial loads being followed by repeat orders and increased volumes. Feedback from his customers has been very positive, with comments that the Babylon taste and texture exceeds that of Agria.

The fish and chip shops are facing many pressures at present and so are their customers, but a quality product will always generate repeat business and Babylon has the qualities to produce fries with excellent taste and texture to keep the customers coming back for more.

Grower!

For the future Agrico continues to develop the Babylon variety and to work with the supply chain from the top potato growers, like Peter Legge, through Isle of Ely Produce and Chippy Chat to market and promote Babylon from field to fork.

Isle of Ely Produce have also been promoting a new Chip Ambassador role to promote the great British Chip in association with Agrico. The aim will be to carry on and extend the good work promoting chipping potatoes at their hugely successful open days, and through the ‘Field to Frier’ award.

The Chip Ambassadors will become part of an UK wide group of shop owners and fryers who will promote best practice for potato buying, storing, and of course frying. The chain will also include key growers too like A.L. Legge, as IOE looks to nurture the relationships they have grown across the whole supply chain over the last forty years.

Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely Produce Director said. “It was great for us to be supporting Agrico and our farmers with new varieties. It is important for chip shops all over the UK to try for us to get the results we need for the trial.”

Alex Moore National Sales Manager for Agrico says: “It is nice to see Babylon being tried by so many shops. We are very happy to see the variety continuing to get the same positive results.”

Babylon has been fried and tried across the UK including at the Colbeck show and the IOE field to Frier event.

If you would like to try Babylon and become a chip ambassador, please email austen@chippychat.co.uk