Behind-the-Scenes: “Sweetpotato Is One Word”

Did you know that over two thirds of all sweet potatoes produced in America are grown in North Carolina? They must know what they’re doing in “the Tar Heel State.” Chip Carter and the “Where the Food Comes From” team decided to check it out. They spoke firsthand with Michelle Grainger, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. Then they visited with several members of the Carter, Jones, and Scott families, each of which comprises a multi-generational sweetpotato operation. Rounding out the trip, the good folks at Nash Produce in Nashville, NC, which represents about represents 15 NC sweetpotato farmers, provided a tantalizingly long list the mouth-watering dishes you can cook with using sweetpotatoes..

READ MORE: WTFCF “Behind The Scenes” S1, E6&7: “Sweetpotato Is One Word”

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.
Tennessee corn and soy farmer Josh Ogle joins us to discuss rapid planting progress in the state, improving moisture conditions, and early crop development challenges in the MidSouth region.
Paul Neiffer joined us to explain how USDA’s base acre expansion will be calculated, outline key deadlines for farmers, and discuss how the changes tie into farm program decisions and the broader Farm Bill outlook.
Chad Fiechter joins us to discuss Purdue’s precision ag study, challenges in capturing value from technology, and what farmers should consider when investing in and adopting these tools.
Ethanol demand held together last week, but lower production and thinner stocks put more focus on export strength. Production capacity is also strengthening over time and benefiting soybean farmers.
Farm Bureau Economist Dr. Faith Parum discusses USDA’s efforts to expand fertilizer capacity, signals for farm profitability, and AFBF’s Farm Bill expectations.