In comparison to the beginning of the year, prices remain strong. “The value driven pricing structure that the market currently experiences is due in part to our strategy to offer a premium food at a reasonable price,” Tucker adds, “ounce for ounce, nutritionally speaking, and dollar for dollar, today’s consumer is getting more value than in other foods.”
Approximately 10% of all sweetpotatoes grown within the United States are exported mainly to Europe and Canada. Demand is strongest in October due to Canadian Thanksgiving; however, demand from other countries remains strong throughout the year.
The California Sweet Potato Council welcomes expansion and innovation in order to better grow, harvest, and package their crop. Currently, a local sweetpotato grower is partnering with the UC Merced School of Engineering to design and develop a new steering system for sweetpotato harvesters.
Sweetpotatoes are one of the healthiest vegetables available to consumers. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently rated the top ten vegetables for nutritional value, with sweetpotatoes ranking as number one as they pack more vitamins than most vegetables. “California sweetpotato growers use water flowing down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which is some of the best water in the world,” declares Tucker. “California sweetpotatoes are a healthy source of vitamins and minerals served up with a naturally sweet taste.”
Eating a sweetpotato with the skin on allows for more than 4g of fiber consumption and can be easily prepared with a little olive oil before cooking. One medium-sized California sweetpotato contains 2 grams of protein, less than 110 calories, and more beta carotene than any other vegetable. “Today, we are all about natural sugar,” explains Tucker, “many consumers are even switching back to soda made with natural sugar. California sweetpotatoes need no added sugar. By converting nutritious carbohydrates into sucrose, they are naturally sweet after being cooked.”
The drought in California is currently affecting all growers, and may cause the planned acreage for sweet potatoes to decrease. “Currently, we are at 65% of normal rainfall for the season and our main reservoir is at 8% of capacity,” states Tucker, “water availability will continue to challenge our desire to increase acreage to meet the growing demand for California sweetpotatoes”
Sweetpotato as one word is not only grammatically correct, it’s a handy way to remind you that a sweetpotato is not simply a “sweet potato.” In fact, it’s not a potato at all, but a different vegetable entirely, blessed with a totally different nutrient set. While both hail from the same botanical order, they come from different families and contain different nutrients.
For more information please contact:
Jason Tucker
President
California Sweet Potato Council
info@casweetpotatoes.com
www.casweetpotatoes.com