Most of the biomass of roots is constituted by water that usually overcomes 70% of the fresh weight. On the other hand 70-80% of the dry weight is constituted by carbohydrates, mainly fructanos.

The tubers of the Yacón can vary considerably in size, it forms and flavor. The color of its peel varies from brown dark to the purple one opaque even the orange.
HISTORY. The Yacón was possibly tamed in the prehispanic time (Acosta S.1980).

According to Zardini (1991) the first available memories of the use of Yacón are in the archaeological museum of Argentina, associated with the culture candelaria that you development among 1-1000 B.C. to the northwest of Argentina. And also they had been found in a ceramic glass authenticate of the Peruvian culture Born 200-900 B.C. that it is in the archaeology museum and anthropology of Lima-Perú.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION : Due to their high content of water, their nutritious value is low and it consists mainly of carbohydrates; 12,9% the fresh tubers have been analyzed being a content from 69 to 87% of humidity; 0,3 to 3,7% protein.

USES AND ADVANTAGES : The roots of the Yacon have a sweet flavor but it doesn't put on weight. The human body is not able to metabolize the sugar of this plant, for what its eventual use in foods would mean that those that are to diet could eat many sweetter without thinking of the consequences. Theoretically, to the being an edulcorante that doesn't put on weight, the Yacón could supplant cultivations like the cane of sugar and the fructosa of corn in many products, from cookies to sodas. Its main property is MEDICINAL. Eating it as a fruit, it is obtained all the advantages that grants this natural product.

We should consider like one of the main medicinal advantages the fact that the yacon contains a non assimilable sugar for the human organism, is not metabolized. However it favors the development of the microflora of the thick intestine because the bacterias that are located there (bifidobacterias) use this sugar for their metabolism. This way, these bacterias regulate others that are those that produce harmful toxins for the colon and that it is generally the cause of cancer (to the colon).
In the local markets of the Andes yacon is classified and consumed as a fruit and sold together with chirimoyas, apples, avocados, pineapples, etc. and not as a tuber (potatoes, oca, etc.)

The yacon is commonly consumed by diabetics and persons suffering from digestive problems. Properties to treat kidney problems and skin-rejuvenating activity also have been mentioned. Medicinal (antidiabetic) properties have been attributed to yacon leaves (Kakihara et al. 1996) , dried leaves are used to prepare a medicinal tea. Dried yacon leaves are used in Japan, mixed with common tea leaves. Hypoglycemic activity has been demonstrated in the water extract of dried yacon leaves, feeding rats with induced diabetes (Volpato et al. 1997).

At the present time it is devoted to the Yacon great interest like source of raw material for the obtaining of natural edulcorantes and syrups appropriate specially for the diabetics, because in its roots it contains basically the sacaridos inuline and fructose.

Yacon has been suggested as an industrial crop, particularly as a source of sugar syrup and source of inulin. It is tempting to speculate about yacon being transformed into a modern industrial crop with the application of modern agronomic technology, fertilization, genetic engineering, etc.

COMMERCES AND LINES OF DEVELOPMENT : For the Alimentary Industry in the production of different lines of foods and supplements, offers the Yacon like main or secondary input in the following forms: - Flour of Yacon. In different qualities to be adapted to the requirements and our clients' necessities.
- Syrup of Yacon. An appropriate and almost clever form to enter to the processes of juices, sodas, even milky.
- Extract of Yacon. Our clients dedicated to the dietary products have an additional alternative for their special products.
- Leaves of Yacon. The makers of different products filtrantes can have an interesting input and with some advantages similar to those of the same tuber like hypoglucemic and not caloric.