Column: February is US National Sweet Potato Month

{Photo Rierson Farms NC}

Sweet potatoes are moving to the forefront of dining and being enjoyed as more than just a side.

February is US National Sweet Potato Month and these delicious yet versatile root veggies are all the rage.

Farms in North Carolina have had a lot to do with the growth in popularity of the sweet potato which is often confused with the yam, but is very different.

According to the National Institute of Health: “Sweet Potatoes are characterized by a high nutritional value due to their richness in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

One of the sweet potato’s most important features is their high content of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, phenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C.”

You can grab some of these tasty potatoes at the local Lexington Farmers Markets or Piedmont Fresh.

There are even a few local farms that are providing an amazing product.

{Image By: Lexington Farmers Market}

In 2023, NC produced 72,000 acres of sweet potatoes. Half of the 100 counties in NC account for over 60% of the United States' production.

Some researchers, citing divergence time estimates, suggest that sweet potatoes might have been present in Polynesia thousands of years before humans arrived there.

There are over 300 family farms that grow, nurture and harvest the orange superfood in our state. Some of those farms exist in our area. That comes to an economic output of $484 million and 3,157 year-round jobs.

In celebration of US National Sweet Potato Month, there will be delicious recipes to follow by Lifestyles Editor Clarence Vernon Hargrave.

Enjoy!