The sweet potato job has received a welcome boost with a bumper crop from Carolina set to ease pressures created by “monsoon-like rains” and “catastrophic flooding”.
Sweet Potato specialists Ontario International this week welcomed the first of the American new season crop.
The shipments will come as something of a relief to both retailers and customers alike, due to the adverse weather conditions that severely affected the availability of the product throughout much of the 2009/10 season.
Ontario International president Paul Genecco said: “After experiencing one of the most challenging export years in living memory with many of the US growers witnessing desperate shorts in supply due to catastrophic flooding, the beginning of the new sweet potato season has been welcomed with open arms.
“Last season was a real challenge for the US supply base. Tightening of stocks across the country saw us having to work towards obtaining accredited sources throughout other parts of the world to plug any potential shortfalls.’
The sweet potato season was disrupted by persistent monsoon-like rains, which affected the southern US states - occurring throughout the critical September harvest.
The devastating rains engulfed farmland, drowning crops, with Louisiana hardest hit and receiving their second successive year of “wash outs”.
Carolina in contrast survived much of the conditions, reporting strong yields of large tubers.
Genecco added: “Last year's issues created lower yields of the smaller tubers seen throughout retailers pre packed products. Louisiana crop was eradicated, with Carolina crop too large for conventional packaging machines.
“Growers are satisfied with the way that the harvest is going so far this year, however as with all things fresh the next few weeks are crucial.”
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