North Carolina sweet potato growers are getting ready for the upcoming season. Plant beds have been completed and the crops are now waiting to be transplanted into the fields. Although cooler weather has been prolonged on the East Coast, this has not affected initial planting conditions.
"We finished up the plant beds several weeks ago," said Will Kornegay of Ham Farms. "They are now under plastic waiting for warmer weather before we transplant them into the fields by late May or early June. The weather has not been a factor, and the plant beds are in excellent condition."
Market still low
In North Carolina, all the main varieties are available year round. Growers have noted that the market has been flat recently, but with higher demand on the horizon, it is gradually increasing. "Our full line is available year round, including Covington - both conventional and organic - White, as well as the purple-skinned Murasaki," Kornegay said.
"The market has been slightly lower over the past few seasons, but we are optimistic that we see a positive increase thanks to a rise in demand both domestically and overseas," he continued. "Historically, the biggest demand for sweet potatoes has been around Thanksgiving and the Holidays, but in the last several years, we have witnessed a general increase in demand year-round."
Kornegay attributes this to the many value-added products that sweet potatoes can be used for. These include anything from convenience packs to sweet potato chips. They, in turn, are impacting demand on the fresh market. "People are discovering the many health benefits of sweet potatoes which is in line with growing consumer awareness about healthy products," Kornegay explained. "The value-added products and desire for convenience has changed the way sweet potatoes are offered. This is giving a positive impression on sweet potatoes which is also translating to increased fresh sales."
Gleaning
Along with growing demand for healthy products and the many options for sweet potato consumption, another line of sweet potato product that Ham Farms is collaborating on is flour. By utilizing sweet potatoes that are not considered marketable - such as misshapen, extra large or small sweet potatoes - the company is able to produce sweet potato flour.
"We are building up our new product category under the brand Glean, which involves turning left over sweet potatoes and other vegetables such as pumpkins and beets, which cannot be sold for the fresh market, into powders and flours," Kornegay said. "Not only have we tapped into a growing market for healthy food products, but we are helping to reduce food waste for farmers. We also want to promote goodness in the community, so currently for every pound of the finished product sold, we are donating a pound of food to fight hunger. This way, we can get a full circle of benefits for farmers, consumers and the community."
Ham Farms is also increasing its presence in organic, as they see this as a growing market as well. "We just launched a new organic label - Prime Organics - four weeks ago," Kornegay announced. "This is something we are going to push this season. We have implemented more acreage to allow us to expand on our organic offering."
For more information:
Will Kornegay
Ham Farms
Tel: +1 (252) 747-8200