Left: Eustace is another variety of sweet potato grown in Jamaica. Right: There are six varieties of sweet potato; this one is Miss Mac.

Quarter Million, Clarendon, Eustace, Miss Mac, DOR, FOL (Fire on land) are the six varieties of sweet potato which are grown on the farm.

Issacs-Green said the tubers, which take between four to five months to grow, vary in size, look and consistency but the taste usually remains constant.

Individuals choose the variety which best suits their needs; for instance, if they are baking potato puddings or simply boiling their potatoes.

Daily diet

During discussions, she pointed out that incorporating sweet potatoes in our daily diet in fun ways, like making sweet potato chips, having the tuber for breakfast or dinner, gives the consumer a variety of options which don't restrict them to bread.

Currently, they are involved in a project with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to zero in on the potential of these sweet potatoes. It's a win-win situation for both parties, Issacs-Green said, as the organisation uses their land to find out the varieties which produce the best yield and in what soil conditions. At the end of the day they too learn more about the varieties.

sacha.walters@gleanerjm.com