Your customers can tell the difference

Discover how North Carolina’s growing conditions produce the best quality sweetpotatoes in the world.

About Sweetpotatoes

Founded in 1961, the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission is a non-for-profit corporation made up of over 300 sweetpotato producers, along with the packers and business associates that support them.  NCSPC is committed to supporting its growers and increasing sweetpotato consumption through education, promotional activities, research, and honourable horticultural practices among its producers.

Health Benefits

Recipes

Distributors

Since six sweetpotato farmers established the commission over sixty years ago, it has supported its growers and maintained North Carolina as the No. 1 sweetpotato producing state in the United States since 1971.

Retail insights

Following our harvest in 2023, we conducted a landmark, large scale research campaign across several European markets. The purpose was to understand shoppers’ behaviours and the size of the sweetpotato market in each country.

We are working closely with our farmers and producers to deliver the highest quality sweetpotatoes across the market, and also with buyers to establish promotional programmes in order to support strong sales that balance customer value and profitability for our members.

Sweetpotato sales in the UK are worth £71m and growing at 8.6%,[1] €79m in France growing at 17%,[2] and €63m in Germany.[3]

55% of sweetpotato shoppers in the UK chose the vegetable as a healthier alternative to white potatoes.[4]

Despite effects from the cost-of-living crisis, 24% of consumers across the UK are buying more sweetpotatoes compared to previous years.[5]

The percentage of households buying sweetpotatoes also varies from 42% in the UK[6] to 34% in France[7] and 22% in Germany[8].

[1] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 6th August 2023

[2] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 9th July 2023

[3] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 9th July 2023

[4] TRKR, October 2023, 255 sweetpotato shoppers in the UK

[5] TRKR, October 2023, 255 sweetpotato shoppers in the UK

[6] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 6th August 2023

[7] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 9th July 2023

[8] Kantar Worldpanel, 52 w/e 9th July 2023

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.

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.

European Distribution

We have a number of trusted suppliers who have been exporting sweetpotatoes to Europe for the past 30 years. Utilising our innovative curing and storing process developed by North Carolina State University, we can ensure a year-round supply of the highest quality sweetpotatoes. Our efficient distribution and shipping system ensures a streamlined process for delivering the sweetpotatoes to Europe, ready to be enjoyed by consumers in farm fresh condition.

Dupree Farms Produce

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

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

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

J. Roland Wood Farms

Address: 2500 Beasley Rd, Benson, NC, 27504

Contact: Suzanne Rhodes

Phone: 9198942319

Email: Suzy@jrwoodfarms.com

Grower/Packer/Shipper of quality sweetpotatoes grown in the heart of Eastern North Carolina. A family, hands-on, business capable of serving individual customers with individual attention. We have over 35 years of experience in the sweetpotato industry!

Jackson Farming Company

Jackson Farming Company

Address: 3171 Ernest Williams Rd, Autryville, NC 28318

Contact: Joy Button Norby

Phone: 9105672202

Email: joybutton@jfcmelons.com

Jackson Farming Company was started in 1981, by Brent and Debbie Jackson, and is still a family-owned farming company today. Our company farms with the intent of upholding the values and goals of family, quality, and growing safe, nutritious, local produce that will give families a satisfying eating experience.
Jackson Farming Company grows produce from Pennsylvania to Florida and can meet all seasonal needs. We are based in Eastern North Carolina right off I-95, near Fayetteville.

Millstream Farming LLC

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

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

Vick Family Farms

Address: 11124 Christian Rd. Wilson, NC 27896

Contact: Charlotte Vick

Phone: 2522377313

Email: charlotte@vickfamilyfarms.com

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.