16th April 1859
First Jersey Royals are exported to London
Jersey new potatoes only found fame on the mainland after the first shipment went on sale in Covent Garden on 16 April 1859. They were an immediate hit, and three further shipments were sent before the end of the season, plus a fourth to Swansea. That was just the start of their success. Less than 10 years later, Jersey was exporting more than 4000 tons of potatoes to the mainland, and demand has been strong ever since.
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Other events that occured in April
Jersey Airport welcomes first private plane
- The first private plane to land at Jersey Airport completed its 275-mile crossing from the mainland in 1946.
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Pilot helps yacht in distress
- When a pilot spotted a yacht in distress while flying his aircraft from Jersey to Heston Airport, he dropped down low to see if he could help.
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A crane falls into St Helier Harbour
- A 25-year-old crane operator drowned when his crane fell from Victoria Pier into St Helier harbour.
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Jersey benefactor Thomas Davis is born
- Thomas Benjamin Frederick Davis was born in St Helier, and died, aged 75, in Durban, South Africa. He left behind a considerable fortune and a yacht once owned by the Kaiser.
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