A violet revolution, but who profits from the ube market?

Ube (Dioscorea alata), popularly known as purple yam, has emerged as a global culinary phenomenon, with demand surging across North America, Europe and Asia. Despite the Philippines being the world’s leading producer of fragrant, dessert-grade ube, national production has declined from more than 15,000 metric tons in 2021 to about 12,483 metric tons in 2025. This paradox—rising exports and global popularity alongside falling domestic supply—has forced the Philippines to import ube from Vietnam to meet local demand. This paper examines the structural vulnerabilities of Philippine ube production, compares yields and commercialization strategies across Asean and global producers, and analyzes the […]... Keep on reading: A violet revolution, but who profits from the ube market?

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