The delicious, sweet and buttery taste of Perlas Gold potatoes adds that, “special something”, to any meal. Perlas Gold are clean, washed and ready to cook, The skins are thin and delicate and the flesh golden, sweet and buttery.
Wilcox background
Our family has been growing potatoes in New Zealand for over 75 years (3 generations) and in all that time we haven’t come across a better tasting new season potato than Perlas.
We grow them with care right here in New Zealand and harvest them fresh from the fields in Kaitaia, Franklin and Matamata.
At Wilcox we believe goodness never tasted better.
New Season Potatoes
When everyone had their own garden, families would look forward to the first of the crop of new season potatoes. Usually they would be available just in time for Christmas and were eagerly anticipated for their taste and size.
With everyone getting busier and sections getting smaller that tradition was somewhat diminishing, but thankfully Wilcox have championed the resurrection of new season potatoes via their Perlas brand of new season potatoes.
Perlas are planted late in winter and spring so that they are available for us to enjoy in late spring and summer. They are small in size yet big on taste. New season potatoes can be classified as “young potatoes, characterised by soft skin so delicate it can be easily flicked off with your fingers”.
What are Perlas Gold?
Andean Sunrise is the exclusive potato variety in Perlas Gold. The potato originated in the high Andean mountains, near Lake Titicaca on the border between Peru and Bolivia. This is where the Incas first cultivated the potato.
Nowadays, in New Zealand it is grown exclusively by AS Wilcox for our Perlas Gold boxed potatoes. It can be characterised by it’s yellow skin and gold flesh which is sweet and buttery when cooked.
Where Perlas Gold are grown:
Right now your Wilcox Perlas Gold are being dug from selected sites throughout the Kaitaia district.
These sites are chosen for their nutrient rich soils and micro climates that when combined enable us to grow stunning new season potatoes. Your first bite will tell you that the team at Wilcox know what they are doing.
Here are some easy meal Solutions to inspire…
Warm Perlas Gold Potato, Beetroot & Blue Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
- 8 baby beetroot
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoon red wine or balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 500g Perlas Gold potatoes
- 200g blue cheese, roughly diced
- 50g walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped
- 3 Tablespoons fruity olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley - Freshly ground pepper, and salt
Preheat oven to 200C. Wash and trim beetroot, and cut into halves or quarters, depending on size. Put into a roasting tin with vinegar and first measure of oil, turning to coat well, then sprinkle on brown sugar. Roast 45 mins, or until tender.
Boil potatoes in their skins in salted water until just tender. Drain well, cut into halves, and combine with beetroot in a serving dish. Scatter cheese on top, drizzle over second measure of olive oil, and add chopped walnuts, parsley, salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Warm Perlas Gold Potato, Bacon & Broadbean Salad
Ingredients:
- 250g broad beans
- 500g Perlas Gold potatoes
- 6 rashers of streaky bacon
- 2 spring onions, sliced
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1.5 Tablespoons lemon juice - 1 teaspoon grainy mustard
- salt and pepper
Cook broad beans, cool, and remove skins; set aside. Boil potatoes in their skins in salted water until just tender; drain well, and slice thickly. Grill and chop bacon. Combine beans, potatoes, bacon, and spring onions in a bowl, add vinaigrette, and mix gently. Serve warm.
Growing Perlas
Planting
Aug-Nov
We select only the best seed potato to plant in the carefully cultivated and prepared soils.
The seed is planted in rows called furrows and continually monitored by our team of agronomists who are ensuring the growing conditions are optimal.
Growing
Sep-Feb
Harvesting
Dec-Mar
The potato on average takes 41⁄2 months to reach maturity during which time water and fertiliser may be applied if required. At the end of the growing cycle the green tops die and the potatoes become ready for harvest.
The potatoes are dug by a special potato harvester and then immediately transferred in 1 tonne wooden crates to our trucks, which bring the potatoes to our pack-house for washing, grading and packing. These potatoes are then trucked fresh to the supermarket shelves for your eating pleasure.
What's in a potato?
Wilcox Perlas Gold are only available at countdown.