THE ability of supermarkets to market early potatoes has been questioned by members of the Scottish Early Potato Growers' Association who argued that independent greengrocers were a better outlet for their crop.

Jim Crawford, of Dowhill Farm, Girvan, told the association's annual meeting at Maidens in Ayrshire that the supermarket chains were not geared up to present Scottish earlies at their best - freshly dug.

The stores' centralised buying system meant that the product was declining in quality by the time it reached the supermarket shelf.

Crawford and other members of the association called upon British Potato Council chairman David Walker not to forget the wholesale trade when the council was devising promotional campaigns.

Walker agreed on the need to get earlies into the stores as soon as possible after lifting but he pointed out that it was not possible to ignore the supermarkets, because they had the bulk of the trade.

However, Asda was changing its ordering pattern and would now accept delivery straight to an individual store, he explained. That would cut 24 hours out of the existing three-day lag between lifting and retailing.

He pointed to the marketing success of Jersey Royals which was based on the Jersey growers' ability to guarantee consistency of supply.

''Supermarkets will source locally as soon as you can give them consistent supplies,'' he said. ''If you create a demand with a supermarket and then cannot fill it they become paranoid that the customer will go elsewhere.

''As a group of growers you have to get together to agree when you are going to start lifting and how you are going to continue. Supermarkets aren't ready to back you yet because you cannot give them a sufficiently consistent supply.''

Responding to critics who wanted to play down the importance of supermarkets, Crawford asked: ''If they are not critical why are you so worried about them?''

The theme of orderly marketing was taken up by association chairman Fergus Little of Stranraer in his address. There might be some grounds for optimism among growers this year and the reason for that was that no-one was trying to undercut the market, he said. ''That is the lesson we have to learn. The farmer's worst enemy is other farmers, when it comes to selling potatoes.''

Results of the annual competition were: Two acres or more of Epicures - 1, Graham Milroy, Cailness Farm, Drummore; 2, Jim Crawford, Dowhill Farm, Girvan. Two acres any variety grown under polythene -1, Donald McColm, Cairngarroch Farm, Drummore; 2, Girvan Growers (Drew Young) Girvan Mains.

Best plot grown for own seed - 1, Jim Crawford; 2, James Lyon,

Little Kilchattan, Bute. Best field any variety other than epicure - 1, James Lyon; 2, John McIntosh & Sons, Genoch, Dunraggit. Best all round crop in excess of 30 acres - 1, Girvan Growers; 2, W&D Jack, Ardneil Farm, West Kilbride. Best all round crop under 30 acres - 1, Graham Milroy; 2, Donald McColm.