Valleyview Farm is a family-run enterprise in Riverstick, Co. Cork renowned for producing premium potatoes, seasonal vegetables and free-range eggs.
Passionate about producing and supplying products of the highest quality, Jason Bryan runs the farm along with his wife Helga and five children, one full-time employee, one part-time employee and seasonal workers. Jason and Helga’s oldest son Dylan is in his second year studying Crops & Machinery Management at Kildalton College and is a great help, as are younger siblings Harry (16), Holly (15), Lottie (seven) and Rosie (four).
Hailing from a dairy background in nearby Fountainstown, Jason was only a teenager himself when he grew his first crop of potatoes in 1998.
“I was more into machinery than milking,” he smiles.
“So needing some pocket money for myself, I grew a half-an-acre of potatoes while I was still in school and it snowballed from there. We now grow 100 acres of potatoes per year along with 20 acres of beetroot and four-five acres of cabbage, carrots and turnips. I also grow some barley in conjunction with my brothers Nigel and Ivor who run the dairy farm, which is a completely separate entity to ours.
“My father Alec bought this farm which I’m now running and living on. We supply our potatoes to Iverk Produce / O’Shea Farms in Piltown, Meadowfresh Foods in Tallow. Dole Produce in Tralee and local markets around Cork, our beetroot to Ballymaloe Foods, while we keep most of the cabbage, carrots and turnips for our own farm shop which is ideally positioned to serve Riverstick and the surrounding towns of Kinsale and Carrigaline, which has one of the fastest growing populations in Ireland.”
Jason continues: “We also have a free-range hen unit consisting of 3,000 hens. We sell their eggs through the farm shop and also to local restaurants, retailers and hotels. Between everything, it’s a busy operation.”
In the county where it is said that Sir Walter Raleigh planted the first potatoes in Ireland, Jason and his team take great pride in the care and skill with which they grow potatoes. They give their spuds all the attention they need to ensure they arrive on the consumer’s plate in prime condition. The Cork grower strives to provide the highest quality potatoes which meet the standards of the Irish consumer, while being mindful of the environment. The Bryans’ passion for producing the best keeps them focused and promotes continuous improvement.
Rooster is the main variety of potato grown along with Kerr’s Pinks, Queens, Golden Wonders, and Markies and Sagitta for the chipping trade. Queens are first to be planted in March, followed by the Rooster, Kerr’s Pink and Marquis maincrop in April. The Queens and Sagitta are dug in July, followed by the Kerr’s Pinks and Roosters in mid-August. After harvesting, the potatoes are weighed, cleaned, graded and packed in the packhouse. The family business has two fridges with a total capacity of 1,200 tonnes and an 800-tonne capacity ambience facility for storage.
“Our potatoes are Bord Bia Quality Assured and are noted for their quality and taste,” Jason proudly states.
“Our commitment to quality begins in the field where we grow and harvest the potatoes. The care we take in storing and packing our fresh produce is proven right through from farm to fork. We pride ourselves in bringing the best quality, nutritious, convenient and delicious produce to the consumer in a sustainable and responsible manner.”
Rooster is a red-skinned potato with a light, floury texture. They are uniformly roundish in shape with shallow eyes, making them easy to peel. They can be boiled, mashed, chipped, roasted, steamed or baked, and a firm favourite with Irish consumers. Kerr’s Pinks are a traditional main crop variety which have a pink skin and a creamy white flesh with a flourier texture. They tend to be flourier than Rooster and therefore slightly more care is needed when cooking.
Queens are a popular, early-season, floury potato variety. They are prized for their excellent taste and dry, white flesh, making them suitable for most cooking methods, particularly boiling and roasting. Golden Wonder are slightly pear shaped with russet brown skin, light yellow flesh and a pleasant floury texture. They have the best flavour of all potato varieties and are ideal for wedges, mash and roasties.
Markies and Sagitta are other popular maincrop varieties grown by Valleyview Farm for chipping. Sagitta are an early chipping variety, while Markies are excellent for long-term storability.
The Riverstick enterprise has an array of machinery to sow, maintain and harvest the crops, including three Massey Ferguson tractors (7718S, 7618 and 7726S), GRIMME harvesters, planters and destoners, and a Scanstone bed tiller. When it comes to extra help with haulage, Jason uses local agri contractors Richard Gotto Agri, Bryan Agri and P Hayes Haulage.
“We’re constantly upgrading our machinery which allows us to provide an efficient, professional and value-for-money service. We have a wealth of experience and expertise, and pride ourselves in our excellent produce. Above all else, we want to ensure that our customers are 100% happy with our produce and service,” he adds.
Jason would like to take this opportunity to thank his customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as his small, but dedicated team for their hard work and skill.
Valleyview Farm
Slieveroe,
Riverstick,
Co. Cork,
P43 Y950.
Telephone: 087 804 3008
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 13 No 3, Winter 2025
