Harvest Experience Torutoru] Digging for Sweet Potatoes in Ibaraki

  • Ibaraki
  • Experience Gifu
Sweet potatoes in Ibaraki

Ibaraki is one of the largest producers of sweet potatoes in Japan.

Ibaraki Prefecture is the second largest producer of kansho (sweet potatoes) in Japan in terms of both cultivated area and production. The most widely grown sweet potato in Ibaraki Prefecture is the "Beniharuka" variety. It is characterized by its rich sweetness and is very popular as a yaki-imo (baked sweet potato). Various varieties are also grown and shipped throughout the year, including "Beniharuka," which is known for its crunchy texture, and "Silk Sweet," which is known for its smooth texture and sweetness.

*Introduction to sweet potatoes produced in Ibaraki Prefecture*.

Beniharuka
Beniharuka was developed with the aim of creating a variety with excellent appearance and taste. It is characterized by its beautiful skin color and high sugar content when heated. It contains a large amount of maltose, which gives it a strong sweetness but a refreshing aftertaste. Also, it is a little powdery when freshly dug, but it becomes sticky when stored. It is smooth to the tongue when eaten as a baked sweet potato.

Beniazuma
This variety boasts strong popularity in the Kanto region. It is named "beniazuma" because of its bright red appearance. The flesh, which enjoys the bounty of the earth, is yellow and powdery with little fiber. Whether steamed or baked, you can enjoy its crunchy texture and deep flavor. It is also a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Silk Sweet
The smooth texture and sweetness of the baked sweet potato has been well received and has continued to be popular since its appearance. The skin color is a deep red, and the inside is cream-colored. Immediately after harvesting, it is slightly powdery and baked to a hokuhokku texture, but after storage, it becomes sticky and its sweetness increases dramatically.

In addition to the above, there are other brands such as "Benimasari," "Aged Beni Kogane," "Beni Kogane," and "Beni Yuuka.

Image provided and information cited from: "Let's Eat Ibaraki, Ibaraki Food and Agriculture Portal Site.
Ibaraki Food and Agriculture Portal Site

How to choose delicious sweet potatoes*.

The skin should be uniformly colored and shiny, and the epidermis should be smooth and firm with no bumps or blemishes. The skin should be smooth and firm, with no bumps or blemishes. Also, candy-colored nectar or traces of black nectar at the edge of the cut is a sign of high sugar content.

*Farms where you can dig sweet potatoes in Ibaraki Prefecture*.

(1)La Poppo Namegata Farmers Village

Image courtesy of Shirohato Food Industry Co.

Visitors can enjoy the experience of harvesting sweet potatoes in the vast sweet potato fields of "Namefa," which has achieved the world's largest record* for digging sweet potatoes.


The world record for the largest number of people digging for taro was set in 2019.

La Poppo Namegata Farmers Village - Autumn Harvest Festival

(2)Fukasaku Farm

Fukasaku Noen will send a special URL to those who purchase their sweet potato products [with VR] via the Internet to view a video of the "VR Sweet Potato Digging Experience" by e-mail. For details, please visit the website.

Fukasaku Noen Website
Please be sure to inquire or make a reservation at the farm of your choice before you visit.

*Because growing conditions and harvest conditions are constantly changing, the information in this article may be subject to change.
This article is current as of September 2022.
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