North Carolina sweetpotatoes are officially in the running to be named one of the coolest things made in North Carolina. The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission announced that the crop has been selected among 88 nominees in the NC Chamber’s seventh annual Coolest Thing Made in NC competition, which celebrates products made in the state and the people and industries behind them.
Public voting is open now at coolestthingmadeinnc.com, and voters may cast a ballot once per day through Sept. 2. Semifinalists will be announced Sept. 9, followed by additional rounds of voting, with the three winning products revealed Oct. 1, ahead of National Manufacturing Day.
North Carolina sweetpotatoes are competing in the Large Business category against a field of recognizable state-made products from companies including Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Butterball and Coca-Cola Consolidated.
“This nomination is really a recognition of the family farms who produce, pack and ship and make North Carolina’s sweetpotato industry what it is,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. “Sweetpotatoes are part of the agricultural identity of our state, and generations of North Carolina farmers have worked incredibly hard to build and sustain this industry. We think that makes North Carolina sweetpotatoes pretty cool.”
No. 1 since 1971
North Carolina has held its position as the nation’s top sweetpotato-producing state since 1971. Unlike many seasonal crops, North Carolina sweetpotatoes are available year-round thanks in part to post-harvest curing and storing, which has helped make the crop a staple across retail, foodservice and processing applications.
“This is a fun opportunity to shine another spotlight on North Carolina agriculture and the people who grow the food we put on our tables three times a day every day,” Grainger added.
Founded in 1961, the Benson, North Carolina-based commission is a nonprofit made up of more than 300 sweetpotato producers, along with the packers, processors and allied businesses that support the industry.