Sweet potatoes and yams are often confused, but they are distinct crops. Yams, native to Africa and Asia, have a rough, bark-like exterior, while sweet potatoes, native to the Americas, have smooth skin. Despite their origin, most of today's global sweet potato supply comes from China.
According to Tridge, China accounted for about 55% of global sweet potato production in 2023, producing more than 50.8 million tons. Much of this output is consumed domestically, either as food or for industrial uses such as alcohol production and animal feed.
A large portion of China's sweet potato production is concentrated in Liancheng County, which produces around 80% of the national total, according to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Known as the "capital of sweet potatoes," Liancheng's economy is largely centered on the crop, with operations ranging from small family-run processing workshops to large e-commerce exporters.
Despite China's dominance in global output, most sweet potatoes sold in U.S. markets are produced locally. Data from the World Integrated Trade Institution show that the United States imported about 45,000 tons of sweet potatoes in 2023, including 32,000 tons from China. However, Statista reports that U.S. farms produced more than one billion tons during the same period, far exceeding imports.
North Carolina remains the leading producing state, accounting for over 60% of total U.S. sweet potato output, according to National Beef Wire. California and Mississippi rank second and third, respectively.
Several varieties are commonly grown across the U.S., including Jewel, Beauregard, Red Garnet, and Japanese Murasaki. The orange-fleshed Jewel and Beauregard are typically used for purees and pies, while the purple-skinned Murasaki variety is preferred for fried products due to its firmer texture.
When selecting sweet potatoes for retail or processing, uniform size and consistent coloring are considered indicators of optimal quality and storage potential.
Source: Food Republic
