Organisers pleased by the wide appeal of Shropshire's annual potato day show

About 700 gardeners, allotment holders and schools were at Harper Adams University, at Edgmond, for the second annual potato show.

More than 100 different varieties of potatoes – including one created in the county – were available to buy at the Shropshire Potato Day.

Organiser Gerrol Jalving, a director at Jalving Potatoes, said: "It went very, very well.

"We had about 700 people through the door, which is more than we ever expected, and we will definitely be back next year.

"The weather certainly helped. It was a lovely day for it. The weather was great, the facility was great and the positive comments we had from the customers were absolutely fantastic.

"Just for the customer reaction it was worth doing. There were also lots of schools involved, getting the younger generation taking part."

Mr Jalving was so impressed he has now booked Harper Adams for the second Sunday in February each year, so next year's event will take place on February 8, 2015.

The show, which is regarded as the biggest potato seed event in the West Midlands, had about 130 varieties of potatoes for sale, including organic spuds. Varieties on offer included the Red Robin, which was created by Telford-based firm Jalving Potatoes, which has been breeding potatoes for more than 30 years.

The event also featured more than 30 varieties of peas, beans, onions and shallots and talks by potato expert Alan Wilson. The company aims to develop the event so it is eventually as big as a similar show in Whitchurch, Hampshire, which has run for seven years and regularly attracts more than 2,500 visitors.

Mr Jalving added: "We organised the event to help promote the potato and to give growers a real choice rather than what is provided by catalogues and garden centres.

"Together with our Dutch parent firm, we have been actively breeding potatoes for the last 30-plus years."