November 2007
To keep in the Thanksgiving theme, the KITV Morning Show featured Okinawan sweet potato from farmer Norman Sadoyama's farm in Waiahole Valley.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Don’t forget to Buy Fresh, Buy Local during this holiday
season!
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| Norman Sadoyama and his grandson, Jonah, on the Living Seed Farm in Waiahole Valley. Sadoyama grows Okinawan sweet potato, papaya and Japanese taro (araimo, dasheen). |
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The November segments on the KITV Morning News highlighted the Okinawan sweet potato and a onolicious sweet potato tempura recipe – just perfect for holiday parties.
Norman Sadoyama grew up on his father’s Waiahole Valley farm and never thought he would grow up to be a farmer. In fact, as a youngster, he wanted to get as far away from farming as he could. But after working in the construction industry, he found himself return to farming back in Waiahole Valley. On his 12-acre Living Seed Farm, Sadoyama grows Okinawan sweet potato, Japanese taro, also known as araimo, and papaya.
Although called the Okinawan sweet potato, the varieties apparently originated in Portugal and was taken on voyages to Okinawa, where it became popular with farmers there. Sadoyama says it takes about 6 months to grow the sweet potato from slip to harvest.
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| KITV's Dan Meisenzahl samples the sweet potato tempura cooked by Frieda Takaki (center). Mahealani Richardson had to wait to get a taste. |
OkinawaSweet Potato Tempura
Recipe by Frieda Takaki
Steam sweet potato until you are able to stick a chopstick
through it. Peel and then cut in 1/4" slices.
Batter: 2 cups flour
1 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup sugar
2-1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
1 cup cold water
1 cup milk
Yellow coloring
Gently mix all ingredients. Dip potato in batter and deep fry in hot oil until light brown. Enjoy.
