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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Taro Root |
| Scientific name | Colocasia esculenta |
| Family / Genus | Araceae / — |
| Produce category | Root Vegetable |
| Produce subcategory | Tuber |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4592 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_7680 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dasheen | 45% | The most common commercial type. Large, elongated corms with a rough, brown skin and often purplish flecks in the white flesh. Starchy, nutty flavor, less acridity when cooked. Highly versatile for va |
| Eddoe | 30% | Smaller, more globular corms than Dasheen, with a hairier, darker skin. Firmer texture and a stronger, sometimes more pungent flavor. Often preferred for specific culinary applications due to its dist |
| Bun-Long (Chinese Taro) | 12% | A popular Dasheen-type cultivar, particularly in Asian markets. Large, elongated corms with prominent purple streaks throughout the white flesh. Offers a creamy texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor |
| Kalo (Hawaiian Taro) | 7% | Represents a diverse group of traditional Hawaiian landraces and cultivars. Varies in corm size and flesh color (white, pink, purple). Known for its use in poi and other traditional Hawaiian dishes. O |
| Satoimo (Japanese Taro) | 4% | Small to medium-sized, round to oval corms with a smooth, light brown skin. Distinctive slightly slimy or mucilaginous texture when cooked, with a mild, earthy flavor. Popular in Japanese cuisine. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 45°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | low |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | null ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Taro is a non-climacteric root vegetable with low ethylene production and sensitivity, making it generally safe in mixed loads.
Mixed-load compatibility
Compatible with most non-ethylene sensitive produce; does not produce significant odors or ethylene.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by growing ethnic food markets and expanding interest in diverse root vegetables for culinary applications.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.5 |
| Income elasticity | 0.8 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Dasheen | 50% |
| Eddoe | 30% |
| Bun-Long | 15% |
| Other | 5% |
Pack sizes
- 40 lb cartons
- 50 lb sacks
- 10 lb bags
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.