Provincial and federal governments in Canada Aug. 29 announced a $210,000 investment in agricultural research, focusing partly on sweet potatoes. The demand for the crop has grown 83 percent in Canada in the past 10 years, but most are imported.
It is hoped that a new variety of sweet potato will be created to handle Manitoba's cool climate and short growing season without sacrificing flavor or storability. The key will be to increase the rate of growth without accelerating the sweetening of starches within the crop.
