ISHS Acta Horticulturae 318: II International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops
TRENDS IN TROPICAL ROOT CROPS PRODUCTION AND IMPORTATION FOR THE UNITED STATES |
| Authors: | S. K. O'Hair, M. Lamberts |
| Abstract:
With the continued immigration of people from the tropics to the United States, the demand for exotic vegetables comprises several root and tuber crops including (a) cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), (b) boniato or white-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam), (c) yams (Dioscorea rotundata Poir. and D. cayenensis Lam.), and (d) the edible aroids, cocoyam or malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott) and taro or eddoe [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott]. According to the USDA-FAS, the volume and value of yam imports has tended to rise over the period 1984–1991. For this period the volume of fresh cassava fluctuated greatly and the volume of white-fleshed sweetpotato remained constant. The unit values of root and tuber imports have remained very stable over this period, with yams commanding the highest value at $0.13/kg and white-fleshed sweetpotato the lowest at $0.05/kg. Cassava and the aroids, etc. were imported at a mean of $0.10/kg. Thus, with increased volumes of imports, the prices have remained stable within this period. | |
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