Purple Is the New Orange: Stokes Purple® Sweet Potatoes Go Mainstream

Trending purple tubers add color break and draw attention to potato display

LOS ALAMITOS, CA (November 2016) — Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are having their day in the sun with foodies and trendsetters. From oatmeal add-ins to replacing bread for “toast,” savvy shoppers are looking for more than just orange sweet potatoes to add nutritional value and color to their meals. Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, exclusively available from Frieda’s Specialty Produce, are the tubers they are looking for.

“This year’s shipments are up significantly from last year at this time, and we’re not even into the holiday season yet. That’s how strong the demand has been for these California-grown purple sweet potatoes,” said Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s.

In general, sweet potatoes have come a long way from the marshmallow-topped holiday side dish. Their nutrient-dense nature makes them a hit with fitness enthusiasts and healthy eaters everywhere—as an energy and nutrition booster for oatmeal, smoothies, and even in baked goods and holiday treats. Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes give shoppers the color variety and vitamin C boost they crave.

“We’ve seen a considerable increase in website traffic and shoppers contacting us to find purple sweet potatoes over this past year,” added Caplan. “Shoppers, especially Millennials, are discovering these special tubers through social media like Instagram, where the vibrant purple hue makes for beautiful food photography, attracting more shoppers.”

The holidays are peak season for sweet potatoes, and Frieda’s recommends that retailers and wholesalers add some color and variety to their offerings. Purple inside and out, Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes stand out in the sea of brown and orange in any potato display, providing a much needed color break to draw in curious shoppers.

Talk to a Frieda’s account manager about these terrific tubers, as well as other popular holiday roots like Sunchokes®, celery root, and parsnips.

About Frieda’s Inc.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce celebrates a 54-year legacy of inspiring new food experiences for friends, family, and food lovers everywhere. Credited with introducing more than 200 specialty fruits and vegetables to U.S. supermarkets, Frieda’s has helped launch unique items like kiwi fruits, Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, habanero peppers, Sunchokes®, and organic finger limes. Founded in 1962 by produce industry icon Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is now owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce, and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.