The adoption of a UNECE recommendation for sweet potatoes this week will ensure product quality and fairness in trade, thus enhancing sustainable development outcomes. The standard was initiated by Germany and South Africa.
Sweet potatoes are becoming an important part of our cuisine: mashed sweet potatoes (American cuisine), sweet potato fries (international fusion), sweet potato gnocchi (Italian cuisine), roasted sweet potato and chickpea salad (Mediterranean cuisine).
According to the Observatory of Economic Oversight, the main exporters in 2022 were the United States, followed by the Netherlands, Egypt, Spain, Viet Nam, Canada, Belgium, Japan, and Portugal.
“Sweet potatoes play a significant role in food security and poverty alleviation. It is a staple food for millions of people around the world, especially in developing countries, providing a source of affordable and accessible nutrition,” explained said Cyril Julius, Chairperson of the UNECE Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, and Chief Operations Officer of the Perishable Produce Exports Certification Agency of South Africa. “That said, it has significant importance in trade as well, creating income opportunities and contributing to economic growth in agricultural sectors. Having a standard for sweet potatoes levels the playing field, allowing growers, exporters and importers to trade with confidence.”
Over the past 5 years the value of trade in sweet potatoes has increased by 33% globally, from USD 564 million in 2018 to USD 753 million in 2022. The value of sweet potato imports to the European Union increased by 40% in the same period from USD 278 million to USD 388 million.
New standards for pecan kernels and in-shell pecans
The UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (WP.7) also adopted two new standards for pecan kernels and in-shell pecans. Pecans rank as one of the top 15 foods with the highest levels of antioxidants. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
The pecan tree can live up to 300 years, during which it can produce fruit every year once it reaches maturity. “These new standards reflect the growing importance of pecans in the international trade and consumer diet. They seek to deliver quality pecans to consumers,” said Dorian LaFond, Chair of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Dry and Dried Produce.
After record production in 2020/21 and a slight dip in 2021/22, the global pecan crop rebounded in 2022/23 to an estimated 154,266 metric tons (kernel basis), a 9% increase over the previous year. Mexico and the United States led the world production in 2022/23, accounting for 44% and 40% of total production, respectively. South Africa came in third place with 10%. The adoption of quality standards for pecan kernels and in-shell pecans is important for facilitating global trade of pecans.
For more information:
unece.org