CATEGORY LEADERSHIP AWARDS SWEET POTATOES

Leading producers of sweet potatoes have watched and been part of the transformation of the category from the average sweet potato holiday staple dish to being incorporated into everyday meals. According to leaders like Scott Farms and Nash Produce, the category has grown steadily as consumers realize the versatility of the vegetable. Furthermore, sweet potatoes have also been an simple, yet tasteful addition to many meals and recipes.

“The industry is growing more toward the value-added sector of the industry,” said David Bradley, Supply Chain Specialist with Nash Produce. “We look across the board, and we see bagged potatoes, steamers, microwaveables or tray packs. Those are the four options we sell to our customers and how we contribute to that growth. One way that allows us to grow in the value-added sector is we invest a lot in the structure on the operation side, which allows us to store more volume and enhances the quality of the sweet potatoes to last year round and ship them to all of our customers 365 days a year. Also, we are customer focused; we are constantly trying to peruse the level of quality of our service to our customers. We want to have a good reputation surrounding Nash Produce. Lastly, we try to better understand the operations—how can we maximize our productivity on the operations side? How can we find a sweet spot with labor when we are trying to produce these products? Also, we are trying to become more efficient so we can better serve our customers.”

As a very nutritious main or side dish, Scott Farms’ offering has been part of the evolution of the category since the beginning, and the company has continued to produce sweet potatoes yearround for their consumers.

“It’s one of the healthiest vegetables that you can eat, it’s very nutritionally dense, and that is no longer a secret,” said Jeff Thomas, Director of Marketing with Scott Farms. “Sweet potatoes continue to grow in consumption and in use too. It’s no longer a holiday type item because you can go into any retailer or restaurant throughout the year and find some dish that can be made with sweet potatoes. As far as the trend with those you are still seeing many things being done with them, especially on the retailer side from your fresh cut categories, to value-added products, the preparation of them and being incorporated in with other items. It is no longer a standalone side dish or dessert, it is being incorporated into a complementary item served with many proteins such as pork, chicken and really anything you would like to pair it with. So, that is one of the things we are trying to do: encourage the usage of sweet potatoes as a complementary item. A sweet potato can be very flavorful, and its name ‘sweet’ is just that—it’s a sweet potato. When eating sweet potatoes, do I eat them with nothing on them; no butter, cinnamon, sugar or marshmallows, or I will eat them plain. There are very simple ways to prepare them or complex ways, so it’s very versatile.”

Since 1975, Vick Family Farms has been a leading grower, packer and shipper of several vegetables; it is now one of the largest farms producing sweet potatoes.

Vick Family Farms has more than 30 miles of land in three counties: Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe in North Carolina. The company has remained family-owned and operated and employs more than 250 associates. While sustainability has remained a topic of interest in the category, Vick Family Farms has been dedicated to sustainable practices that give consumers peace of mind when purchasing its produce. According to the company, Vick Family Farms has awards in conservation, which reflect the company’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact.