NOVEMBER 2014
CELEBRATING 135 YEARS AS CANADA’S PREMIER HORTICULTURAL PUBLICATION
VOLUME 64 NUMBER 11
CROP TRANSITIONS
Market signals persuade long-time potato growers to dig sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a heat-loving crop that are right at home in North Carolina. The state has almost 50,000 acres devoted to the tuber. So it takes patience to find a cultivar that might flourish in Canada’s cool-climate zones. That’s underway as Vineland Research and Innovation Centre works with growers and processors to exploit growing consumer demand. Jack Streef (left) and sons Dylan and Nathan, have staked part of the Princeton, Ontario family business on 60 acres of sweet potatoes for the first time this year. Photos by Glenn Lowson. worth $40 million. That’s to keep Once out of the field, sweet pota(Vineland) has ramped up KAREN DAVIDSON up to Canadian tastes for the toes must head to curing rooms research on sweet potatoes, antioxidant-rich superfood. for 10 to 14 days at 23° to 24°C particularly varieties adapted to Princeton, Ontario – For 37 Promoted by both nutritionists with 95 per cent humidity. When Ontario’s short-growing season U.S. rescinds preferential years, potatoes have been a staple and celebrity chefs, sweet the skins are hardened, the sweet and cooler climate. access to dispute for Streef Produce Ltd., but this potatoes have found a sweet spot potatoes can be stored at 10°C Valerio Primomo, Vineland’s resolution Page 5 year, they grew a new root with consumers who have through to spring. vegetable breeder, is testing 15 vegetable: sweet potatoes. Sixty doubled consumption in the last Rather than build a new pre-commercial lines from his OFVGA launches acres sounds like a big gamble, five years. structure, the Streef’s bought and breeding program that may prove new logo Page 8 but with strong demand signals, Sweet potatoes are truly a retrofitted a nearby veal barn. The more adaptable and yield-worthy president Jack Streef expects that minor use crop in Canada with a curing rooms have been designed than the current commercial genetic research will improve his paltry 1,500 acres. The for the least amount of handling. standard, Covington. The 15 lines FOCUS: Seed and stake. opportunity is for another 6,000 The packing line is custom-made were selected during the past rootstock Page 14 “We’re concerned that we acres to displace imports and to by local manufacturers. A spiral three years from the more than don’t have enough to supply satisfy retailers’ penchant for washer, for example, should aid 1,000 lines initially evaluated at customer demand,” explains local produce – as long as there is in more gentle handling while an Vineland. In the 2014 growing Streef. The well-known family quality and consistent supply. immersible flume should make season, these 15 selections were has a commission house at the That’s where the agronomic for less scratching of the potato tested by three Ontario commerOntario Food Terminal. Reading expertise of the Streef family skins in water. A stainless steel cial growers and one Nova Scotia the pulse of the market, brother comes into play. Without size, grading line requires more grower. Pete Streef could see that demand smooth skins and year-round workers but in the long run, will Several members of the value is growing for sweet potatoes, supply, local product only goes so ensure a better product. chain are taking part. McCain and while demand for conventional far with retailers. So the Streef’s Make no mistake. Sweet Pride Pak represent the processor potatoes is shrinking. have researched the best ways to potatoes are a totally different side. Growers include Berlo’s Their market intuition is cure, handle and pack sweet crop to manage. They are more Best Sweet Potatoes, S & I www.thegrower.org backed up by statistics from potatoes. closely related to the morning Agricultural Commodities Ltd., Agriculture and Agri-Food The new curing rooms and glory and not to potatoes at all. Round Plains Plantation and C.O. P.M. 40012319 Canada. In 2012, Canadian packing line are a key investment With clear demand signals Keddy Nursery Inc. retailers imported 60,000 tonnes to enhance quality and from consumers, the Vineland of sweet potatoes from the U.S. consistency of the product. Research and Innovation Centre CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 $3.00 CDN
INSIDE