Dutch sweetness
Sweet potatoes are originally from Mexico and grow mainly in (sub)tropical climates. That makes it extra-special that our sweet potatoes from Dutch clay are in the stores until late April and soon, even all year round!
"A true pioneer"
Grower Thijs Koenraadt of Mts. Koenraadt – Heerink has been investing in Dutch sweet potato cultivation for years now. Thijs has achieved what many had deemed impossible, as he had to re-invent everything from the beginning.
That started with investigations into the most suitable varieties for the Dutch climate, followed by an exploration of cultivation, harvesting and storage methods required to ensure the right quality. Sweet potatoes are highly fragile. When harvested, the skin is still very soft and vulnerable. To toughen up, they must undergo curing under very specific climate conditions, but after that the tubers store well.
"Persistence pays off"
After multiple years of innovations and trial and error, it has now become possible to grow and pack sweet potatoes of excellent quality right here in the Netherlands. From late October to mid-April, we pack sweet potatoes grown in Dutch clay and soon, we will be able to do so year-round.
They are just as tasty and a much more sustainable option than imports from faraway countries.
Growing sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes aren’t actually potatoes. They don’t belong to the same family of plants at all. Cultivation is also somewhat different than for normal potatoes.
However, you can still prepare them in all the same ways; boiling, frying, roasting and baking all work well.