Shirohato Foods Corporation (Moriguchi City, Osaka) developing a sweet potato specialty shop "Rapoppo" will open the first overseas outlet "Hawaiian Sweet Potato Factory" which deals sweet potato in Hawaii in late June.

In order to use locally produced sweet potatoes, they have acquired step-by-step a four ha farm after the end of 2015 and expect to harvest 10 to 15 tons per month.

As importance of local ingredients and health consciousness are increasing in the United States, the company considers as "sweet potatoes with natural sweetness are preferred” (President Shunichi Nagao). They also sell a popular fried bread called Malasada in Hawaii and plan to ship the products to and expand their outlets in the mainland in the future.

Reference: http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASHD05H3P_T10C17A6AM1000/