“HAWAIIAN SWEET”
PURPLE SWEET POTATOES
“fun and good for you!”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Press Kit as PDF file

Background Information

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes, also known as Okinawan potatoes, are native to the Japanese island, Okinawa. They are a member of the morning glory family and are called ‘uala in Hawaiian.

Sweet potato is the world's seventh largest food crop. Although China is considered the leading producer of sweet potatoes, the plant is widely cultivated and consumed throughout the world. It is an herbaceous perennial vine with alternate heart-shaped, lobed leaves and medium-sized flowers. The root is edible and is often long and tapered. The leaves are also edible.
 

History

Sweet potatoes are originally from Central America and the West Indies, where Christopher Columbus found them. Columbus took the sweet potato to Spain, and other Spanish explorers took it to the Philippines. From there, Portuguese explorers took it to China, and China introduced it to Japan more than 300 years ago. It is believed that the Purple Sweet Potato was brought to Hawaii a couple of centuries ago when many Japanese were immigrating to the islands.

Sweet potatoes are such an important part of a good diet that they were one of the 30 plants the Polynesians selected and brought with them when they first settled Hawaii in the 6th century. By 1400 AD sweet potato farming was quite extensive and regular consumption was definitely a main portion of the islander’s healthy diet.

Nutritional Information

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes are richly nutritious. They're fat-free and low in calories, high in fiber, great for diabetics and people who are carbohydrate sensitive, and loaded with antioxidants.

A one cup serving of Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes has only 140 calories, yet is packed with 4 grams of dietary fiber.

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have been used medicinally in Japan for treating diabetes and other diseases. They are much lower on the glycemic index scale than white potatoes. That means that even carbohydrate-sensitive people and diabetics can include these good carbohydrates in their diets.

Antioxidants help to prevent diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. They boost immunity, are anti-inflammatory, and keep bones and skin healthy. 
The most powerful antioxidants are phytochemicals.  Anthocyanins are the phytochemical that give Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes their distinctive rich color.  Anthocyanins are flavonoid compounds responsible for the beautiful bright purple flesh of Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes. Anthocyanins from sources such as blueberries and Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have been shown to be powerful antioxidants, exhibiting greater antioxidant activity than either Vitamin C or Vitamin E. Studies show that Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have 150% more anthocyanins than blueberries, that’s 2 1/2 times the punch per serving! Studies demonstrate that neither the anthocyanin content nor the antioxidant activity of the purple flesh was affected by common cooking methods. Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes pigments offer protection from cancer and other diseases!

Uses

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes have a beautiful purple coloring which makes them appealing to kids and visually attractive when plated. Their natural sweetness casts them as a star in desserts and as a fantastic contrasting flavor in savory dishes as well. According to Chef Neil Murphy of Merriman’s Restaurant, Waimea,
“My challenge in working with them was to limit myself…I could have easily made twenty or thirty dishes!”

It’s up to you whether you want to prepare the sweet potatoes in a savory or sweet dish, but just know they’re very versatile and taste great in both!

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes natural sweetness makes them the perfect ingredient for all classifications of dishes. They are fantastic baked, boiled, fried (like French fries), roasted or even microwaved, and are delicious used in entrees, side dishes or desserts. They are wonderfully versatile and they can be a key ingredient in everything from chips to ice cream. They have a naturally creamy flavor and texture and hold their shape well for salads.

On their own, Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes make a colorful side dish or a nutritious simple snack. Their delicate sweet taste affords the simplest of preparations- it can be gently boiled, cut into chunks and served. Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes maintain their lovely lavender hue even after cooking. Their unusual purple color is inspiring to the creative curiosity of culinary artists and its uses are limitless.

Recipes

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes are a favorite in Hawaiian Regional Cuisine which incorporates them into wonderfully creative and beautifully presented dishes of all kinds.

Hawaii Island renowned chef, Neil Murphy, of Merriman’s Restaurant, http://www.merrimanshawaii.com/, has developed the following recipes for your enjoyment:

 “Purple Hearts” (Soup)

Ingredients:

In a pot, sweat vegetables, potatoes with spices (with cover over medium-low heat) Add Chix Stock and simmer for 20 minutes, puree, strain & adjust seasoning.

Stuffed “Purple Hearts” White Cheddar
& Purslane

Ingredients:

Bake potatoes on bed of salt on a pan at 350 degrees till potatoes are soft.  Remove tops and hollow out potatoes.  Put hollowed out parts of potato into whip bowl and add soften butter and sour cream.  Salt & pepper till smooth.  Put in mashed potato into a piping bag and pipe into hollowed out potatoes.  Heat in oven.

Reduce heavy cream in sauce pot and add ½ shallot minced and wine.  When reduced by ½ add grated cheese. 

Adjust season (salt & pepper).  Pinch of Cayenne Pepper and pour overtop of potatoes.

 Sweet Potato Crusted Kampachi

Ingredients:

Cut 4 oz pieces of fish (filet-no skin-no bones)
Shred potatoes into Lime Julienne & rinse in warm water.
Place some shredded potatoes on a plate, put fish on top & top fish with more shredded potatoes.
In a Teflon sauté pan heat 4-5 ounces of oil on medium heat.  Place fish wrapped in potatoes in pan.  When crispy and somewhat brown, turn & crisp up second side.  When crispy, remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.

Tomato-Papaya Coulis
½ Onion (small dice)
1 pc Garlic (minced)
3 Tomatoes, ripe (chopped0
½ Papaya (peeled & chopped0
4T Olice Oil

Heat Oil in sauce pot.  Add onions & garlic “sweat” till translucent.  Add tomatoes & papaya cook med heat for 15 minutes, puree & strain, season with salt & pepper.  Finish with chopped basil.

Garnish with grilled shrimp, basil & lemon.

Sweet Potato & Ginger Cheese Cake with Coconut Ginger Shortbread Curst
& Caramel Sauce

Filling:
Cream cheese – mashed sweet potato – eggs – sugar – ginger juice

Topping:
Sour cream & sugar

Crust:
Toasted Coconut – sugar – flour – butter – salt – powdered ginger

Comming Soon, eggs over Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potato

And Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potato Crepes.

Cultivation

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes thrive in deep, volcanic soils and annual rainfall of about 120 inches. About 1.3 million pounds of sweet potato are grown annually and production is expected to increase as demand continues to rise.
Production is primarily on Hawaii Island, on its verdant east side.

Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes may be propagated from vine terminal cuttings or sprouts from tubers. The best planting period in Hawai'i is March to May. When planting vine cuttings, bury at least 3 - 4 nodes, four to nine inches below the soil surface. Spacing should be four feet between rows and 10 to 12 inches between plants. Good soil drainage is essential for the production of a successful crop. Sweet potato cuttings should be planted on ridges. Height of the ridge is usually 8 - 14 inches, depending on soil drainage. Yield can be increased by 30% with timely irrigation. When tuber formation starts at about the 7 - 9 week stage, avoid prolong water stress up till about the 14th week. Irrigation should be stopped about a month before harvest.
“Hilling” is done at about five weeks after planting. Usually the remaining half of the recommended fertilizers are applied just before hilling (assuming half was applied pre-plant). Soil is pulled up from both sides of each ridge increasing the width and height of each ridge by 1 - 3 inches. Hilling may aid in reducing damage by weevils. Optimum soil ph range is 5.1 to 6.8.
The estimated yield of Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes is 11,000 lbs. per acre. Timing from planting to harvest is four to six months. After harvest Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes should be cured for ten days to increase total sugar content, improve flavor and extend shelf life.
Picture of Sweet Potato Farm to be inserted here

Availability

Hawaii’s mild, tropical climate allows for year-round production of Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes with minimal seasonal influences. They are planted and harvested weekly in Hawai'i
They can be shipped directly to your door in sturdy, 30 pound cartons. They have a shelf-life similar to russet potatoes, months if cared for properly. To achieve maximum storage life, keep Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes in a cool, 55-75 degree environment, with low humidity.
Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes are certified for export after they have been post-harvest treated with irradiation from electricity. They receive a low-dose x-ray which insures that any pests will not be a problem on the mainland. The potatoes are unchanged in their exceptional taste, texture and nutritional value.

Distributors

Please contact any of the distributors below to place an order for
Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes.

Alembic International
808-775-1478
PO Box 1941
Honokaa, HI 96727
http://www.alembicinternational.org/

Crown Pacific International
808-935-1550
355 Luakaha Street
Hilo, HI 96720

Diversified Ag
808-935-4423
PO Box 10927
Bakersfield, CA 93389

Hilo Products
808-935-1106
41 Makaala St.
Hilo, HI 96720

Hawaii Enterprises
808-964-5509
PO Box 11040
Hilo, HI 96721

Western Fresh Marketing
808-982-6345
PO Box 329
Madera, CA 93639

Interview Resources
Please contact any of the growers/ distributors below to schedule an interview.

Iris Sheperd 808-960-0496

Moshe Mandelman or Stephen Wheat 808-775-1478

Photography by RW Smith Photography

http://www.rwsphoto.com

For photo use permission, please contact
Eric Weinert
Hawaii Pride
808-982-8880 x12
eweinert@hawaiipride.com