Posts Tagged “North Carolina sweet potatoes”
North Carolina grows and ships nearly 70% of sweet potatoes, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
North Carolina growers normally start harvesting sweet potatoes in August.
A combination of soils and temperatures are primary reason sweet potatoes in eastern North Carolina lead the nation in production.
The Interstate 95 corridor, around Wilson, Nash, Johnston and Sampson counties, is the heart of sweet potato country.
The growing region includes part of the Piedmont region and a small portion of the eastern part of the state, but not too far east.
The farther east in the state you go, the soil is blacker and not as well suited for sweet potatoes.
2021 harvested area for fresh and processing sweet potatoes combined was nearly 105,000 acres, up from 92,000 acres in 2017 and more than double the acreage of about 40,000 in 2007, according to USDA statistics.
In 2021, about 88% of the entire North Carolina sweet potato crop value was derived from the fresh market.
All of the research and infrastructure investments in North Carolina sweet potatoes have allowed North Carolina sweet potatoes to be available all year long, both for domestic and export.
Vick Family Farms of Wilson, NC is expected average volume shipments for sweet potatoes during it’s 2021-22 season, with harvest wrapping up in November just in time for the holidays.
In 2021, the company celebrated 25 years of packing and marketing its own brands.
The operation’s first packing facility was built in 1996 and it now owns and operates two packing sheds, as well as working with other local growers and sheds throughout the season.
Vick is experiencing a harvest being later than normal due to weather factors. This has resulted in potatoes not sizing up as quickly. However, being well into the harvest the company has been pleased with yields and quality.
With average yields, volume is expected to be similar to last year, thanks in part to some additional planted acreage.
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission, noted the harvest began in early September. The grower organization anticipates the state’s acreage will be similar to last year and thus far sweet potato diggings are showing an excellent quality crop.
Between August 2020 and August 2021, NCDA reported a total of 11,971,868 40-pound cartons of fresh-market sweet potatoes being shipped. The state’s industry ships sweet potatoes 12 months a year.
The Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission is expecting good sweet potato shipments in 2021 as well — after growers dodged the bullet with Hurricane Ida.
The shipping outlook for North Carolina sweet potatoes has improved substantially in recent weeks, while steady movement continues from California grapes.
Heavy rain from Hurricane Matthew in October dropped torrential rains and flooding on North Carolina sweet potato fields with more than half of the crop still in the ground, concerns for high that volume shipments might be drastically affected. However, the covington variety — the state’s major variety — proved to hold up well to excess water. The crop is now virtually harvested and growers are claiming North Carolina sweet potatoes will be available year-round as usual.
In 2015, North Carolina shipped about 16.48 million 40-pound cartons of sweet potatoes. November is the top shipping month with over 12 percent of the total crop being moved. This compares with 8 percent in October and 9 percent in December.
Now instead of a 40 or 50 percent loss of sweet potatoes from the hurricane, estimates are now in the 10 to 15 percent range for North Carolina sweet potatoes in the state. Overall the crop is expected to be about the same if not a little more than last season. Helping offset losses is an increase in acreage from last year.
Eastern North Carolina is shipping about 300 truck loads of sweet potatoes a week.
North Carolina sweet potatoes from the Benson area – grossing about $1000 to Atlanta; $1300 to Philadelphia and Chicago; $1950 to Miami; and $2300 to Boston (with spot rates possibly increasing).
California Grape Shipments
With more California table grapes remaining to be shipped than a year ago, loading opportunities should be good through the holidays.
California grape inventories through October were 14 percent above the same time a year ago. Total supplies of California grapes were 11.94 million boxes on Oct. 31st, up from 10.48 million boxes a year ago, but down from 12.3 million boxes two years ago.
California’s July grape crop was estimated at a near-record 117.06 million boxes, up from 109.6 million boxes in 2015.
Grape shipments from California’s Kern District were running at about 2.4 million (19-pound) boxes per week in early November, while shipments from the state’s San Joaquin Valley were reported at 450,000 boxes per week.
Kern District grape shipments – grossing about $4100 to Chicago; $5900 to Baltimore.
Between 2009 and 2014, per capita sweet potato consumption grew 60 percent in the United States to 7.5 pounds, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
North Carolina easily leads sweet potato shipments, where about half of all domestic sweet potatoes are grown.
Sweet potato popularity has taken off with a 400 percent increase in sales since 2009 and a 30 percent increase in 2015 alone. Already this year the dollar value of shipments is tracking 30 percent ahead of 2015’s record year, which exceeded $100 million for the first time. The United Kingdom receives over half of all exports from North Carolina, followed by the Netherlands and Canada. Belgium and Germany have seen big bumps in recent years and new markets like Norway are taking off. The Tar Heel State has also been investing to develop export markets, particularly in Europe, where sweet potatoes are not a traditional part of the diet.
North Carolina sweet potatoes are an unfamiliar food for many Europeans, but their sweet flavor, healthy profile and versatility are quickly winning over new consumers. The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ International Trade Office to run education and promotion campaigns to introduce sweet potatoes to Europeans and show how to prepare and enjoy them. Current NCSPC Executive Director Kelly McIver came from NDACS’ marketing division and managed those programs.
“Introducing sweet potatoes to Europe gave us an opportunity to build our story for this ‘exotic’ vegetable,” McIver said in a press release. “We executed an integrated campaign that reached the trade, media and consumers to make N.C. sweet potatoes part of their diet.”
Europeans have adopted sweet potatoes in meal preparation throughout the year. While popular for holiday tables, sweet potatoes are also being grilled or added to salads in the summer, while being roasted or added to soups and stews in colder months. Their extensive nutrition benefits, delicious taste, and versatility are making sweet potatoes a regular part of meals at home and in restaurants.
Sweet potato shipments from the Benson, NC area to Miami, FL – grossing about $2000;$1500 to Philadelphia; and $1000 to Atlanta.
From Washington state apples, to Nebraska and Texas potatoes, as well as North Carolina sweet potatoes and more, here’s some fresh produce loads to consider.
Washington Apple Loads
Apple shipments are really picking up from Washington state’s Yakima and Wenatchee valleys. They have finally got the old crop out the way and the focus has shifted to new season fruit. The harvest is still continuing, but volume should get heavy as we get into November.
Potato Loads
Shipments of red potatoes out of North Dakota and Minnesota remain only light to moderate as digging still continues. The harvest of Red River Valley potatoes is about two to three weeks behind schedule, with a little over half of the spuds now in storage. Loadings should increase in the weeks ahead.
Sweet Potato Loads
Another late harvest is with North Carolina sweet potatoes. Some sweet potatoes were being shipped uncured at the start of the season, but now there has been time for curing. Sweet potatoes are not very sweet or moist when first dug. It takes six to eight weeks of proper curing and storage before they have the sweet, moist taste and texture desired when baked.
Nebraska continues to ship light amounts of potatoes, mostly from the Imperial, Neb area in the southwest part of the state, and from O’Neill in Northeast Nebraska — about 200 loads weekly combined from both areas
There’s also similar volume of potatoes coming out of what’s know as the High Plains district of West Texas, around the Herford area.
Washington state apples – grossing about $6400 to New York City.
North Carolina sweet potatoes – about $1500 to Atlanta.