2025 - Your Commission at Work

YOUR PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE AT WORK

Educational Campaign In 2019, the Commission was awarded a grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to create a nationally board-certified K-12 curriculum. Over the past year, we were able to utilize funding from the General Assembly grant to further build upon the efforts started in 2019 to educate the next generation about sweetpotatoes and their role in lifelong health, agriculture, and career pathways. In partnership with educators, we developed a suite of K–8 learning modules designed for classroom and homeschool use. Lesson plans examples include a STEM-based Sweetpotato Energy/Battery Unit that teaches how food powers the body, and a Middle School Marketing Module that builds critical thinking and media literacy through consumer science. We also created career exploration materials highlighting agriculture’s impact on North Carolina’s economy, and a sweetpotato-themed coloring and activity book that introduces younger students to superfoods in an engaging way.

Sweetpotatoes in Education “From classrooms to

cafeterias, sweetpotatoes are fueling curiosity, health, and future opportunities.”

Curriculum Expansion Building on a 2019 grant, the Commission broadened its nationally certified K–12 program. Hands-On Learning Sweetpotato Energy/Battery Unit (STEM + nutrition) Middle School Marketing Module (media literacy) ‍ Career Connections Resources show agriculture’s $ impact on NC and inspire future pathways. Early Engagement Coloring & activity book introduces superfoods to young learners. School Meals Partnerships with dietitians & IFPA help bring sweetpotatoes to cafeteria trays.

These efforts fill major gaps in existing health and agricultural education, especially for middle grade students, by making nutrition, science, and career exploration more accessible and relevant. The resources support state standards while encouraging students to see agriculture not just as food, but as a vital part of their future. In parallel, we advanced school foodservice outreach through speed meetings with the International Fresh Produce Association and collaboration with registered dietitians to integrate sweetpotatoes into school meal planning. Together, these initiatives expand the visibility and value of sweetpotatoes – on the plate, in the classroom, and across the career pipeline.

✨ Big Picture From classrooms to

cafeterias, sweetpotatoes are fueling curiosity, health, and career inspiration.

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