Provenance Potatoes

Provenance Potatoes operates in the heart of Kent’s prime potato-growing region. True to their name, Provenance Potatoes has a deep connection with their local community, knowing precisely who grows each potato they sell, the specific field it was cultivated in, and the seed it originated from. They oversee every stage of the process—washing, grading, packing, and delivery—to ensure the potatoes reach customers exactly as their farmers intended.

Kent, known for its rich agricultural heritage, boasts some of the most fertile and productive fields in the country. Provenance Potatoes is committed to maintaining and enhancing this fertility, with a focus on improving soil health and structure through various methods:

Cover cropping: Enriches soils with extra nutrients and protection.

Reduced cultivation: Minimises carbon loss to the atmosphere and benefits earthworm populations.

Use of compost and farmyard manure: Increases soil organic matter.

All local producers associated with Provenance Potatoes are highly esteemed in the industry, holding Red Tractor accreditation, with two even being LEAF accredited. Provenance sources its own seed for their farmers, ensuring complete traceability from seed to plate.

Provenance Potatoes and their grower group are acutely aware of the environmental and social impact their operations have on the natural landscape and local community. They are dedicated to reducing their collective carbon footprint, caring for the land, and fostering local economic growth through job creation and rural wealth.

Some of the potato farms are located near watercourses and wetlands, areas their farmers actively protect and maintain. Near the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve and Preston Marshes, efforts to restore ditches and reed beds have led to the return of beavers, otters, water voles, and the discovery of shining ramshorn snails. These habitats are also vital for birds such as bitterns, herons, greylag geese, Canada geese, teal, woodcock, snipe, fieldfare, redcaps, green woodpeckers, greater spotted woodpeckers, and reed warblers. Special care is taken to preserve grass buffer strips and field margins, providing nectar sources and winter food for birds. They also plant wildflower mixes to encourage biodiversity.

To further reduce their carbon footprint, Provenance utilises the Cool Farm Tool, an online calculator for greenhouse gas, water, and biodiversity metrics, helping farmers take positive steps to minimise environmental impact.

Provenance also addresses food waste throughout the supply chain with a whole-crop marketing strategy. This approach finds markets for all sizes, shapes, and skin finishes of potatoes, increasing saleable yield and reducing waste. Any potatoes unsuitable for human consumption are returned to a grower for use as cattle feed.

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