2024 - Your Commission at Work

Retail Pilot Program Retail promotions were identified as a key tactic to reach consumers and drive impulse purchasing for the year. Given this desire, we partnered with Fresh Smart Solutions ’ Don Ladhoff, a retail sales consultant specializing in fostering retail partnerships. All programs highlight sweetpotatoes’ nutritional benefits and their versatile nature. At the close of the fiscal year, we launched a summer promotion with Weis Markets that featured POS, a sweetpotato recipe in their July/August HealthyBites magazine, monthly “Shop the Recipe” online, overhead in-store radio, TV media segment, online cooking classes featuring NC sweetpotatoes, member e-blasts, and social media support. The program ran in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware. Additionally, we continue working towards programs with Food City and Lowes Foods for the remaining two pilot programs, which will deploy in August, September, and October 2024.

Ripe for Revival Chef Rival

This past June, NCSPC was the Band Sponsor for the Ripe for Revival Chef Rival, where three local chefs from three regions of NC competed against each other in creating tasty recipes that championed North Carolina sweetpotatoes. These included a Chopped Chicken Philly Slider with Crispy Sweetpotato Home Fries, Southern Sweetpotato Smash Sliders with Charred Sweetpotato Slaw, a Sweetpotato Smashburger with Pickled Okra Tartar Sauce, a Southwestern Burger with Sweetpotato BBQ sauce and a 'We Got Beef' Slider including Sweetpotato Quick Cured Beef on a Sweetpotato Milk Bun. The recipes were served to over 175 guests to round out a great Southern hospitality event! As the band sponsor, NCSPC Executive Director Grainger had the chance to address the participants of the event, speak about our state’s favorite and most versatile superfood and introduce the band. Additionally, she served as one of the three judges.

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