The Louisiana State University AgCenter recently released a new sweetpotato variety, Avoyelles, which is named for the parish where scientists initially found the variety.
The variety boasts higher yields, lighter skin, good taste and harvesting up to 30 days sooner than other sweetpotato varieties, according to the university.
LSU AgCenter sweetpotato breeder Don La Bonte said the new variety can be harvested about 90 days after planting, something growers had asked for.
“The value is this time of year — when you start getting into July and August when you’re running out of product for the retail and processing sectors — here’s something you can harvest without losing a lot of yield and be able to service your customers,” La Bonte said in a report from the LSU AgCenter.
La Bonte also told the university an early-maturing variety can help growers in years when plantings happen later. The variety is resistant to root-knot nematode and has a pleasant, creamy texture.
