The NAHT’s meeting coincides with concerns of an epidemic of potato-rustling. Farmers claim that people are sneaking into fields and digging up their Jersey Royals by the sackful.

Whether it’s black marketeers, happy campersor galloping gourmets unable to resist the taste of hot buttered new potatoes, is not clear. But the island is on alert. Bergerac has been called in.

Tim Ward of Jersey Produce Marketing Organisation tells the Diary: “I don’t think your heads have too much to worry about. But don’t go diving into any fields in case John Nettles is lurking.” Consider yourselves warned ...