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
French catamaran, St Malo, strikes rocks
- A rescue operation swung into action when Saint-Malo, a French-owned catamaran, struck La Frouquie rock off Jersey with 307 passengers aboard.
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States votes to buy land to build Jersey Airport
- Prior to the opening of Jersey Airport, all aircraft serving the island took off from and landed on the beach.
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Jersey Electricity Company is established
- Jersey Electricity was founded as the Jersey Electricity Company on 5 April 1924. It is the sole supplier of electricity to the island.
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Jersey votes to retain the death penalty
- The States of Jersey votes 22 to 28 in favour of retaining the death penalty when it debated the matter in April 1972.
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