Promising start to San Joaquin sweetpotato harvest, grower says

San Joaquin Valley, Calif.-based Bako Sweet reports a promising start to its sweetpotato season, despite the cold and wet conditions that followed the winter months.

As the grower-packer-shipper gears up for the International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce & Floral Show, Oct. 19-21,  in Anaheim, Calif., it says it looks forward to showcasing the range of sweetpotato sizes in this year’s harvest. What’s more, as the harvest season reaches its halfway mark, concluding mid-November, all signs point to a slightly higher yield from last year, according to a news release.

“We expanded acreage this year and have been really pleased with the quality and sizing of the crop so far this season,” Matt McCort, Bako Sweet’s executive vice president, said in the release. “We're committed to meeting the growing demand for Bako Sweet products and have plans for continued growth in our value-added business from the ground up."

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The Bako Sweet team is excited to engage with retailers and attendees at the upcoming Global Produce & Floral Show and discuss promotional and merchandising strategies for both the holiday season and the year ahead, according to the release.

"While sweet potatoes are traditionally associated with holiday feasts, our focus is on 'sweetening your every day.' We're working closely with retailers to merchandise our products in a way that supports year-round sales," Susan Noritake, director of sales at Bako Sweet, said in the release.

Bako Sweet says its goal at the Global Produce & Floral Show is to showcase the versatility of sweetpotatoes and provide creative ideas for incorporating them into daily meals. Show attendees can visit booth No. 4083 to see its full line of value-added and bulk products and explore the possibilities of sweetpotatoes, according to the release.