A sour taste from a sweet season
A GROWERS' group is examining ways to force more sweet potatoes on to Australian dining room tables to guard against periods of oversupply.
Ideal growing conditions have encouraged high yields for sweet potato growers and a bumper national crop.
But they are now battling against low prices because of a flood of produce which has come on the market after recent rain.
Bundaberg sweet potato grower Dean Akers said a surplus of the popular vegetable meant there was more going to market than vendors could sell.
"The national market is pretty well all choked up at the moment," Mr Akers said.
"A total of 10,000 (18 kg) boxes went to Melbourne (on Monday).
"That's more than they've ever had before."
Recent low prices have been welcomed by consumers who have been able to buy good quality sweet potatoes at rock-bottom prices.
The supply surplus has forced retail prices down to as low as $2 - about 50% less than the average price last year.
Australian Sweet Potato Growers industry development manager Russell McCrystal said the group was working towards increasing national demand.
"At the present time some of our growers are really struggling with low prices because there is so much produce around," he said.
"To maintain the profitability of our industry we need to work towards increasing consumption."
Mr McCrystal said sweet potatoes had a high vitamin content and boasted a low glycemic index.
"There are many attributes that really set sweet potatoes apart and make them a good option for families," he said.
