A 19-tonne shipment of sweet potatoes from Suixi County in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, has passed quarantine inspection by Xiahai Customs and been exported to Russia, marking a new export destination for Suixi.
Located on the Leizhou Peninsula, Suixi is home to selenium-rich volcanic red soil and is China's largest winter sweet potato production base. More than 400,000 mu (26,700 hectares) of land in the county is planted with sweet potatoes, yielding around one million tonnes annually. The industry's total value has exceeded 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), benefiting about 100,000 farming households. Suixi sweet potatoes are sold across China and exported to Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The volcanic red soil has also given rise to distinctive local varieties. "Volcanic Sweet Potatoes" are known for their rich aroma, soft texture and mellow sweetness. Suixi has also developed and promoted a type of sweet potato popularly known as "durian sweet potato," named for its exceptionally soft, creamy texture and high sweetness, which are said to resemble the texture of durian flesh when cooked.
Author | Lin Riqing
Photos | Guo Longbi, Lan Weiqiang, Chen Huan
