The International Sweet Potato Week officially started on Monday in the Miele Experience Center in Vianan. The sweet potato will be in the spotlight from 14 to 24 March and American Sweet Potato invited people from the food sector to get to work with the American exotic. Before cookers were lit Susan Phillips, Agricultural attache of the American embassy in the Netherlands, cut the ribbon for the symbolic first tray of sweet potatoes and she and Charlotte Mauritz of Phaff Export Marketing, gave presentations on the state of affairs in the market for American sweet potatoes in the Netherlands.
Susan Phillips cuts the ribbon and opens the promotion week
Characteristics
The name sweet potato can cause some confusion: "The sweet potato is totally different from the regular potato, but is often to be found among the spuds in retail. Opinions on that position are divided and Sweet Potato Company isn't involved in it," says Charlotte. Phaff Export Marketing works for The American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute under the working name American Sweet Potato.
Charlotte Mauritz presents the sweet potato
She can report that the sweet potato is a colourful addition to the shelves. "The sweet potato comes in three varieties: white, orange and purple. The orange is the sweetest variety and is used the most. The white is less sweet and the purple isn't yet well known but we are working on it."
According to Charlotte the growth and appearance aren't the only differences with the normal potato: "The sweet potato has a lot of fibre and carotene but has a low GI index. The sweet potato contains a maximum of 66% glucose whereas the normal potato quickly reaches 85%. This is good news for diabetics. It is also a versatile product with properties that lend themselves from starters to desserts and even vodka."
Origin
As an American, Susan Philips has been familiar with the sweet potato for a while. In her home country the vegetables is a staple at Thanksgiving and she often goes for a portion of 'fried potatoes. "The sweet potato has been known among prehistoric tribes for years and some people still use 90% of the sweet potato in their dishes."
Origin
As an American, Susan Philips has been familiar with the sweet potato for a while. In her home country the vegetables is a staple at Thanksgiving and she often goes for a portion of 'fried potatoes. "The sweet potato has been known among prehistoric tribes for years and some people still use 90% of the sweet potato in their dishes."
Michael Wilde of Eosta and Annemiek Wils of Met Smaak
Susan believes this is for a reason: "The sweet potato has higher concentrations of vitamin E and D that prevent skin ageing. The substances are also slowly carried into the blood, which means you have energy for longer. The sweet potato also helps prevent cancerous cells and lowers blood pressure."
All those characters are causing an increase in consumers who are prepared to pay more for the sweet potato. A price that is justifiable as the sweet potato is a sensitive plant harvested by hand and which only thrives in warm areas.
Martin Oudenes and Liana Aroutiounian of Roveg with Karin Defossez of Phaff Export Marketing
The Netherlands
"The Netherlands, and even Spain are too cold for the cultivation," according to Susan. "This is why the Netherlands imports 70% of sweet potatoes from the United States. This makes the Netherlands the main buyer of sweet potatoes after the United Kingdom and Canada. 91% of the harvest from North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and California. The cultivation increases there every year," adds Susan. "In 2015 the yield was 5% higher than the year before and the area increased by 14%."
Mark Hooiveld of Aviko and Rob Geers of Geers en Vos Agriculture
After Susan cutting the ribbon on a tray of sweet potatoes, Sweet Potato Company invited the guests to stand in front of the cookers and get to work with the sweet potato.
Susan Philips with Marcel Pinckaers from the US Embassy present the final result of an afternoon in front of the cooker
More information:
American Sweet Potato
Charlotte Mauritz
Tel: 0031 (0) 321-387978
E: [email protected]
