Sweetpotatoes are as American as apple pie, and even more so. Native Americans were already growing Sweetpotatoes when Columbus came to these shores in 1492. Sweetpotatoes have been growing in the South for as early as 1648.
Sweetpotatoes are not even potatoes! In fact, they aren't even distant cousins. Potatoes are tubers from the solanaceae family. Their genus is solanum. Sweetpotatoes are part of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Their genus is ipomoea batatas.
What's in a name? When it comes to the yam, a bit of confusion. A "yam" is really a variety of sweetpotato grown in the South.
North Carolina is the leader in sweetpotato production, supplying 40% of the annual US production of sweetpotatoes.
Popular moist-fleshed sweetpotato varieties grown in North Carolina include the Covington, Beauregard, Hernandez, Jewel, Puerto Rico, Japanese, O'Henry and White Delight.
North Carolina sweetpotatoes are available year-round, but are in abundance from September through June.
North Carolina sweetpotato growers planted 42,000 acres in 2009. Across the nation, 106,000 acres of sweetpotatoes were planted. North Carolina produces 40% of the national supply of sweetpotatoes.
In 2007, the total cash value of U.S. sweetpotato crops was approximately $374 million dollars.
In 2002, the total cash value of US sweetpotato crops was approximately $213 million.
