The Futurist
Amazon Prime’s “The Futurist” explores cutting-edge tech and innovation, unveiling mind-bending concepts and their impact on our world, inspiring viewers to dream bigger and imagine a world where tomorrow’s possibilities are today’s realities.
One of the standout stories featured is our very own Sweetpotato industry in North Carolina, a shining example of how tradition meets technology. Farmers there are using advanced storage solutions, AI-driven grading systems, and innovative packaging techniques to minimiSe waste and maximise efficiency. By blending age-old farming practices with modern technology, they’ve turned a regional crop into a global phenomenon. This highlights the critical role innovation plays in creating a more sustainable and resilient food system.
At the heart of this change is the need for sustainability. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and food waste are urgent challenges that demand new solutions. Regenerative agriculture is emerging as a powerful tool to address these issues, allowing farmers to produce more food with less environmental impact. Focusing on soil health, reducing chemical use, and embracing eco-friendly practices ensures long-term agricultural viability while benefiting the planet.
Farming process
Starting the journey
Unlike Irish or white potatoes, the sweetpotato story doesn’t start with seeds. Instead, they are grown from cuttings called sprouts or slips. Some farmers start the sprouts in a greenhouse, while others grow sprouts by “bedding” sweetpotatoes in March.
Transplanting for success
Come April, May and June, the sprouts are cut and then planted into one of the 34,000 hectares of North Carolina sweetpotato fields. Farmers carefully relocate the sprouts to ensure optimal growth conditions – this is known as transplanting.
Growing up
Sweetpotatoes need around 90-120 frost-free days to grow and mature. They grow underground in the fertile and nutrient-dense North Carolina soil.
Harvesting time
As the calendar turns to August, the sweetpotato harvest begins. Tractors gently flip the sweetpotatoes onto the surface before they’re harvested by hand to protect their delicate skin. The harvested sweetpotatoes are then graded and sorted based on their size.
The storing process
To ensure a year-round supply of sweetpotatoes, North Carolina State University developed an innovative ventilation system so farmers can store sweetpotatoes for up to 12 months.
Curing for quality
When the sweetpotatoes are ready to be exported, they’re transferred to a special room where they are cured for three to five days at 30 centigrade and high humidity.
This essentially wakes the sweetpotato back up, tightening the skin and enabling the starch to turn to sugar. If left untreated, they would turn green and the taste would be affected.
Exporting across Europe
The cured sweetpotatoes are then cleaned and exported by shipping container. It takes 14 days for the sweetpotatoes to arrive in Rotterdam before continuing their journey to restaurants, supermarkets, and plates across Europe.
Take a look behind the scenes
About North Carolina Sweetpotatoes
Sweetpotatoes are an important crop to the people of North Carolina and their rich history of growing the vegetable dates back centuries. Sweetpotatoes, which became the official state vegetable in 1995, are now enjoyed all over the world as a satisfying and versatile vegetable with a well-earned reputation for being nutritious.
Health Benefits
Recipes
Distributors
Our producers
Export Destinations
Varieties Shipped
Dupree Farms Produce
Address: 1308 Pearidge Rd, Angier, NC 27501
Contact: Kimberly Dupree
Phone: 9196393511210
Email: Kimberly@dupreefarms.com
Dupree Farms is a 3rd generation family farm located in Angier, North Carolina on the edge of Harnett, Wake, and Johnston counties. The farm is owned and operated by Roger Dupree and his son Nicholas Dupree.
Farm Pak Products
Address: 7840 Old Bailey Hwy, Spring Hope, NC 27882
Contact: Johnny Barnes
Phone: 2528856633
Email: johnny@farmpak.com
Farm Pak is a third-generation family-owned business. We grow, pack, ship, and export conventional and organic sweetpotatoes in all sizes available boxes (40 lb, 20 lb, and 6kg) 2, 3, and 5 lb bags, single microwaved-wrapped, and 1lb steamable bags. Our products are available year-round thanks to our temperature-controlled storage that accommodates 2 million bushels. We are Global GAP and GRASP certified and are a certified seed producer. Certified Seed sold under: Barnes Farming
Ham Farms
Address: 963 Hwy. 258 South, Snow Hill, NC 28580
Contact: Sydnee Ham
Phone: 2527478200
Email: info@hamfarms.com
For over 40 years, The Ham Family has been committed to growing, packing, shipping and processing the finest sweet potatoes and sweet potato products on the market. Currently Ham Farms ships locally, nationally, and even exports to more than 16 countries worldwide. No matter the destination, we take pride in delivering all our products from our family farm to your table.
J. Roland Wood Farms
Address: 2500 Beasley Rd, Benson, NC, 27504
Contact: Suzanne Rhodes
Phone: 9198942319
Email: Suzy@jrwoodfarms.com
Jackson Farming Company
Address: 3171 Ernest Williams Rd, Autryville, NC 28318
Contact: Joy Button Norby
Phone: 9105672202
Email: joybutton@jfcmelons.com
Millstream Farming LLC
Address: 1131 Timothy Road Dunn, NC 28334
Contact: Annette C. Starling
Phone: 9105676745
Email: millstreamfarms@gmail.com
Millstream Farms is a grower, packer, shipper for sweetpotatoes in Eastern Carolina. We ship sweetpotatoes all over the world from our 1,000,000 bushel, storage facility in a variety of grades and pack types including: 40lb cartons, 18 kg cartons, 6 kg cartons, bulk bins and bulk process loads. We offer traditional Covington sweetpotatoes, Murasaki oriental and Purple Purple sweetpotatoes.
Nash Produce
Address: 3500 Sandy Cross Road Nashville, NC 27856
Contact: Don Sparks
Phone: 2524436011
Email: donsparks@nashproduce.com
Originally started in 1977 as a smaller farming operation, Dale Bone Farms grew into the largest cucumber shed on the East Coast. In 2006, a group of experienced tobacco and sweet potato farmers recognized the need for a distribution facility. They purchased the operation and formed Nash Produce. The soil and climate in eastern North Carolina provide the perfect environment for growing the world’s best sweet potatoes and pickling cucumbers.
Vick Family Farms
Address: 11124 Christian Rd. Wilson, NC 27896
Contact: Charlotte Vick
Phone: 2522377313
Established in 1975, Vick Family Farms has grown to become a globally leading and diversified grower, packer, and shipper of sweet potatoes, tobacco, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and corn, and one of the nation’s largest growers, packers, and shippers of sweet potatoes lead by its recognizable brands Carolina Gold and Pure Gold. Its success is rooted in its storied tradition, stewardship, service, and integrity.