FALL 2022

Speak SWEETPOTATO

FALL 2022

CONVENTION REGISTRATION DETAIL

Summer Recap on your NCSPC Staff, Upcoming Meeting Registration All things SWEET!

Brent Leggett, PRESIDENT Leggett Farming Partnership Rob Hill, VICE PRESIDENT Tull Hill Farms Kim K. LeQuire, SECRETARY- TREASURER Kornegay Family Farms & Produce 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

700 E. Parrish Dr. Suite C Benson, NC 27504 (919) 894-1067

NCSPC S TAFF

Sarah Carraway Lancaster Farms Clay Gardner CEG Farms, Inc. Frank Howell Howell Farming Co., Inc. Jim Jones Jones Family Farms

Michelle Grainger, Executive Director Cindy Vanderhoof, Finance & Operations Specialist CoCo Daughtry, Communications Specialist Brittany Beasley, Intern

Thomas Joyner Nash Produce

Dewey Scott Scott Farms Lynwood Vick Vick Family Farms Craig West West Family Farms Partnership Michael Wood J. Roland Wood Farms

If you are interested in contributing an advertisement or an article to the Sweetpotato Speak please contact:

CoCo Daughtry Communications Specialist Email: coco@ncsweetpotatoes.com Phone: (919) 894-1067

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A lot has happened since my last column and given how full this newsletter is, my column will only allow for the highlights, but I am excited to share with you all that I can! This spring and summer have had me on the road and in the air a lot – all in the name of NC Sweetpotatoes! I traveled to Montreal in April to attend the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) for their spring show. This was a tremendous experience as it allowed me to visit numerous retailers and fresh markets to see not only how sweetpotatoes are marketed to consumers, but most especially how North Carolina sweetpotatoes are marketed to Canadian consumers. Participation in this show also allowed me the opportunity to meet others in the specialty food product industry to discuss the use of NC’s finest in their many innovative food products. In May, I had the opportunity to take part in several out-of-state conferences and events, including traveling to Nashville, TN to see NC’s

A FEW MINUTES WITH MICHELLE

favorite superfood showcased by numerous rising star chefs in the region who participated in the Star Chefs Restaurant week. If you use social media, check out this Instagram account https://www.in stagram.com/starchefs - you will see where NC Sweetpotatoes have been featured in Washington, DC, Denver, CO, and Nashville, TN already this year and there are two more stops across the country with this promotion to go! The innovative and creative methods of how our sweetpotato has been elevated during each of these city’s restaurant weeks has not only been exciting, but incredibly tasty

as well! (I promise you will do a double take while you reach for a napkin to wipe the drool from your mouth!!) The Commission also had the opportunity to take part in the Today’s Dietitian conference

Michelle Grainger, Chef Michael Gibsobn & Promotions Chair, Brenda Oglesby 5

Continuation of A Few Minutes with Michelle.

are doing and how they have brought rice back to NC, I encourage you to check them out – as it’s fascinating and it all stemmed from the desire to create better duck hunting! At this event, we featured both Covington and Purple Majesty sweetpotatoes and included them in a few of the meals prepared for the talented chefs who participated. It is also at this event, that we began the #WheresSpencerSweetpotato social media campaign. If you have access to Instagram and/or Facebook, use this hashtag ( # ) to see some of the posts of where Spencer has traveled this summer. I left Oriental, NC, and flew to Madrid, Spain to begin my inaugural European NC Sweetpotato travels. In two weeks, time, I along with Cathy Ma from the Department of Agriculture traveled to a total of five countries, seven cities, visited three US Embassies, utilizing a smattering of planes, trains, boats, buses, subways, and taxies ( not to mention our feet for walking )! Much like my time in Madrid, we visited wholesale markets and retail stores – at all price points, but we also met with importers and wholesalers, government officials, restaurant owners, chefs, social media influencers, and even a few consumers! This trip provided us both insight with regards to opportunities of how NC may want to next promote our sweetpotatoes in Europe as well as identify trends we saw within the European marketplace, which would perhaps have potential here in the States. It was also educational to see competitor country of origin

in Bonita Springs, FL during May. This event allowed for us to interact with registered dietitians from across the country, as well as nutritionists and researchers alike. We were proud to have our own Registered Dietitian (RD) of record to accompany us, Mrs. Sarah Schlichter (Bucket List Tummy). I feel confident that the materials we brought along with us, including our Retail Dietitian Toolkit, left many of these professionals with a renewed appreciation of sweetpotatoes and the inspiration to further utilize them within their own practices. We are excited to see where our numerous conversations from this event will lead.

When it comes to having the honor of promoting NC sweetpotatoes, I don’t believe it gets much more epic than how I spent the majority of June. It began in Pamlico County, NC as I joined our friends at Ripe Revival and Tidewater Grain Rice Company for an NC Chef Tour at NC’s ONLY rice farm. If you are not familiar with what the folks at Tidewater Grain

Spencer’s view of the rice fields in Pamlico County

“When it comes to haveing the honor of promoting NC sweetpotatoes, I don’t beleive it gets much more epic than how I spent the majority of June”

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OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS...

On behalf of our entire office, we wish you and your operation a successful and safe harvest season. I look forward to visiting with many of you while I am out and about, and I thank you for all you do for our industry and those that you help provide a product that is filled with an abundance of great nutrition around the globe.

sweetpotatoes (Egypt, Spain, etc.) and be able to compare them next to ourNCsweetpotatoes. Inhaving that experience, coupled with hearing directly from importers of their preference for NC sweetpotatoes over these other countries of origin. There is no question that the last few years have been a challenge for our industry in the European markets, but after this trip, I feel we have many opportunities to regain our prominence with both the consumer and the importer. The Commission is dedicating many of its efforts to focus on just this – not only for this year but for many years to come and is already creating some new partnerships that we are most excited about. This fall will be no different from this spring and summer – busy with lots of promotional activities! Be sure to follow along on the Commission’s social media channels and don’t forget to use the hashtag #wheresspencersweetpotato!

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FULL ON MARKETING WITH FULLTILT

The Commission attended the 9 th Annual T oday’s Dietitian Spring Symposium . This continuing education event for dietitians and nutrition professionals offered a trade show, breakout sessions and networking events, which gave our team ample opportunities to educate eventgoers on the many benefits of sweetpotatoes. These nutrition professionals are then able to take everything they learned about sweetpotatoes back to their private practices and employers (many of the attendees were retail dietitians who can then speak to their clients, which are our consumers!). At our booth, we had the added bonus of having Sarah Schlichter, our registered dietitian of record to interact with those who stopped by our booth and talk to them about our wonderful retail/registered dietitian toolkit where they can access recipes, tips and information about our favorite vegetable. The symposium was a success, and we came back with many new contacts and ideas of how to better promote North Carolina sweetpotatoes to the nutrition professional audience as well as a long list of signups for our RD Ambassador program ! In early June, we attended the International Fresh Produce Association Retail Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Commission was able to connect with members of the retail world in meet and greet settings which helped begin and cultivate relationships with key retailers and other members of the produce industry. The Commission secured a lunch sponsorship where our baked sweetpotato wedges were featured and loved. Additionally, we attended breakout sessions where we discussed ideas to increase consumption of plant-based foods. We were not only able to learn from our peers but also impressed them with our deep knowledge of increasing consumption through the education sector. This quarter, we also created a series of EDUtainment videos for Elected NC Officials of the Agriculture & Rural Caucus . As part

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of the Commission partnering with NC Farm Bureau, NC Department of Ag, NC Cooperative Extension, NC A&T, and NC State University, elected officials were able towatch five short videos throughout the day where they were able to learn about topics such as the economic impact of sweetpotatoes, the success of research stations , the role of the commission , all about the sweetpotato crop, the latest technology and of course – that sweetpotato is one word ! The videoswere concise andmodernwithcatchymusic and eye-grabbing design elements and were well received by elected officials. We are very excited about what the next quarter will bring with new food photography and the beginning of our website refresh !

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BRITTANY RECEIVES HIGHEST FFA HONOR - THE AMERICAN DEGREE

The official name of the organization is the National FFA Organization. The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America. These letters are a part of FFA history and heritage that will never change.

The National FFA Organization formerly known as the Future Farmers of America awards members for their hard work and dedication through awards and degrees. There are five levles of degrees throughout the member’s years within the FFA; the Discovery degree, Green hand degree, Chapter degree, State degree, and the American degree. The North Carolina FFA Association will have over 80 representatives receive their American Degrees at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Indiana in October. This is a huge accomplishment for the recipients as this degree is awarded to less than

one percent of all FFA members each year! Recipients of the American degree have a list of requirements they must complete that are set forth in the National FFA Constitution Article VI. Some of the requirements are: the recipient must have received their State FFA Degree, have completed 3 years of agricultural education, have graduated from high school, have a completed an outstanding supervised agricultural experience (SAE), invested $7,500, or worked 2,250 hours outside of their scheduled class time, have outstanding leadership and maintained a “C” or better in their academics and have participated in

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at least 50 hours of community service. In June our intern Brittany was recognized as part of the 1% to receive her American degree this fall in Indiana. Throughout Brittany’s high school career, she focused on swine production placement and entrepreneurship SAE. During the first 2 years of her SAE, she worked on her family’s farm and took care of the show pig operation that her family operates under the guidance of her father. For the last 2 years of her SAE, her father promoted her to barn manager of the show pig operation and allowed her to run it by herself. During these 4 years, she learned the importance of proper barn management, how to care for the overall well-being of the pigs, and how to help her family to improve their operation. Completing all these tasks on her fami ly’s farm, she was able to work toward her goal of completing and becoming one of the 1% to earn this degree. Brittany expressed the happiness she felt when finding out she is now a member of the excluvsive 1% and that all of her hard work over the past 4 years had finally paid off. Brittany credits all of her leadership and people skills she has to the FFA organization. She believes all of the opportunities she has been given, including becoming the intern at the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission have everything to do with the educational opportunities she received through the National FFA organization. The NCSPC Office Team could not be more proud of her! Congratulations on earning your American Degree Brittany!

Teaching how to use the sales system on the Ipad at Annuual Meeting.

A quick selfie with MG to capture the NC Billboards during sweetpotato month!

ABOUT THE SWEETEST WEEK OF ALL

also spanned the virtual trade with a large-scaled e-commerce campaign with reaching an estimated 100,000 online shoppers. Additionally, mk² created a powerful momentum for digital and social media outreach to maximize the impact of this year’s ISPW. On social media, an effective activation through so called dark post advertising, reached European culinary communities as well as new audiences creating high attention for NCSP. Broad campaign activities on respective NCSP social media channels which included feed posts and trendy recipe videos, inspired the community to jointly celebrate the ISPW and to purchase North Carolina sweetpotatoes. Within only one week, ISPW social media activities successfully reached over 600,000 contacts, more than 500,000 total engagements and 1,800,000 total impressions.

For the International SweetPotato Week 2022 (ISPW) in April, mk² created tremendous buzz in Europe to actively promote the orange superfood, increase awareness and efficiently raise sales volume. While partnering with Europe’s #1 discounter, Lidl, inNorthern andEast ern EU (Sweden and Poland), ISPW promotions for Germany took place in association with several partners suchas ofGermany’s top supermarkets REWE and its subsidiary wholesale house Penny in addition to Germany’s #1 discounter ALDI. During the pre-easter week, the strongest sales weeks in food retail, NCSP branded POS material was distributed inside of nearly 40,000 sweetpotato boxes. Thus, a total volume of 240 metric tons of the NC orangesuperfoodwasmovedfeaturing information about NCSP’s origin, quality, health benefits, taste, and ver satility. The inspiring character of the flyers reached consumers at point of-sale, boosting impulse purchases,

leading to a huge impact on sales in all participating markets. A call-to-action element in the POS brochures invited consumers to take part in a raffle for an airfryer. This raffle garnered almost 19,000 participants to register. To be precise, there were exactly 18,778 costumers who took the time to explore North Carolina sweetpotatoes through the raffle and learn about the benefits of NC’s orange superfood! There were six winners in total: • Germany – Ulrike Reidl (from Straubing in Southern Germany)&VanessaRouenhoff (from Düsseldorf in West Germany) • Sweden – Mees Hartsink (from Torsås) & Caroline Lundquist (from Älgarås – both in the in South of Sweden) • Poland – Romana Piotrowska (from Lenartowice in Central Poland) & Iwona Arciszewska (from Nowodworce in the East of Poland) Beyondthebrick-and-mortarretail activities, this wide-ranged promotion

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TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

Without a doubt one of the sweetest weeks of the year! As a result of ongoing dialogue with the Berlin team from USDA (Foreign Agriculture Services / FAS), mk²managedtobepartofasponsorship activity with professional German basketball team ALBA Berlin to make NC Sweetpotatoes co-sponsor of two ALBA Berlin home games in April. NCSP mascot, Spencer Sweetpotato could even show his support by cheering on the team. Go NCSP! A Highlight was the presentation of NCSP International SweetPotato Week content on ALBA Berlin Video Cube and on a LED side panel in Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin reaching around 2,600 visitors in Berlin (due to COVID restrictions in March) and over 100,000 contacts via EU wide broadcast on TV and streaming services. Additionally, NCSP’s ISPW flyer was distributed among the fans and in the VIP area, creating even more buzz around the promotion activities. During secondALBABerlin game on April 22 nd , NCSP had the great honor to meet US Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany Amy Gutman.

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$WEET GRANT FUND$ FOR SWEETPOTATOES

DYK the NC SweetPotato Commission Foundation has been the beneficiary of $473,581.00 from grant funding sources since 2019? A 2019 grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (TTF) has allowed us to “ Bring the Farm to Consumers.” We were awarded $60,000 whichwe used to create classroom curriculum, a Retail Registered Dietitians Tool Kit, create educational videos and purchase two new Spencer Sweetpotato costumes. Most of this available on our website, ncsweetpotatoes.com. Our grower-focused NC Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) will reimburse growers for soil sampling and nematode testing. If you have not taken advantage of this, you really should! NCSPCF received

practices utilizing dump tank water treatment, disposal of contaminated water and more. Once the research has been gathered, a management guide of best practices will bemade available. Weare excited to find more ways to eliminate this invasive pest. Finally, we have a matching grant from USDA Food and Nutrition Service in the amount of $71,845 . This grant allows us to expand the curriculum previously funded by the TTF grant, create more digital content to provide teachers additional tools to use in the classroom and help get students excited about NC sweetpotatoes. Collectively over the past few years we have received $473,58.00 to assist growing our many areas of education and marketing. That’s some “ pretty sweet ” marketing if you ask us!

$175,000 and to date, very few farmers have taken advantage. Reimbursement forms are available in the Member portal. If you can’t get into yourmember portal and need assistance, call the NCPSC office and someone can assist you. Time is running out to receive your reimbursement. Forms must be received by December 30, 2022, due to the grant end date. Don’t be left out , let us help offset costs for testing your fields! Our 2 nd SCB Grant kicked off this year garnering NCSPCF $166,736 to focus on “ Controlling GRKN in Sweetpotato Packing Facilities ”. We have contracted Ann Gallagher, retired NCDA&CS PlantPest Specialist, to facilitate thisprogram. Annhasbeenworking with most of our packing houses to determine best practices in keeping them pest free. We are also working with NCSU on best

“Don’t be left out, let us help you offset the costs for testing your fields!”

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

ARCOLA HARDWOOD CO. 252-257-4484 arcolalumbercoinc@embarqmail.com B&B PRODUCE 919-894-1803 debbie@bandbproduce.com BARFOOTSOF BOTLEY +44-1243-261211 www.barfoots.com BENCHMARK BUILDINGS &IRRIGATION, INC. COURTIER NORDANY 506-473-9492 www.nordany.com FARMCREDIT ASSOCIATIONSOFNC 704-761-2897 www.farmcreditofnc.com FARM FRESH PRODUCE 800-606-9267 www.farm-fresh-produce.com FARM PAK PRODUCTS 252-459-3101 www.farmpak.com 252-398-3116 www.bbandi.com CAQUIN GROUP 863-800-0094 www.caquin.com

HARVEY FARMS 919-750-9712 www.harveyfertilizerandgas.com HIGHLAND AG SOLUTIONS 813-951-2912 www.highlandhasit.com HILL TOP FARM SERVICE CENTER 919-894-4611 www.hilltopfarmservicecenter.com KHS TRANSPORTATION 252-206-5444 www.khsts.com LONG ISLAND LUMBER 434-283-1583 www.longislandlumber.com

NATURE’S WAY FARMS 910-594-0096 www.nwfarms.com PIERCE SOIL & CROP CONSULTING 919-920-0238 www.internationalpaper.com PRATT INDUSTRIES 862-221-7809 www.prattindustries.com RABO AGRIFINANCE 855-818-6555 www.raboag.com

RIPEREVIVAL 252-567-8305 www.riperevival.com

ROBERSONPRODUCE 912-375-5760 www.robersononion.com ROBINSON FRESH 800-411-3596 www.robinson fresh.com

MANRY RAWLS 757-562-6131 www.manryrawls.com MCALL FARMS 843-662-2223 www.yamright.com

S.A.I.L. 252-243-7245 www.sail.li

MOODYDUNBAR, INC. 910-892-3175 www.moodydunbar.com

SCOTT FARMS 919-284-4030 www.scottfarms.com

NASH PRODUCE 252-443-6011 www.nashproduce.com

~Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~Associate Members ~

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

SCOTT INSURANCE 919-844-0640 www.scottins.com

STRICKLAND BROS. 252-478-3058 www.stricklandbros.com TELEOS AG SOLUTIONS

VICK FAMILY FARMS 252-237-7313 www.vickfamilyfarms.com

SEV-REND 618-301-4132 www.sev-rend.com

619-592-0858 www.teleosag.com

TRIANGLERISKADVISORS 919-496-2239 www.triangleinsurance.com TRIEST AG GROUP 844-878-5178 www.triestag.com TRINITY FROZEN FOODS 910-543-7437 www.trinityfrozenfoods.com

SOUTHERNCONTAINER 252-237-0539 www.socontainers.com SPRING ACRES SALES 252-478-5127 www.springacres.com STEELEPLANTCOMPANY 731-648-5476 www.sweetpotatoplant.com

~Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~

Associate Member become an A community listing in the newsletter- ”SweetPotato Speak” A copy of the SweetPotato Speak Newsletter Weekly e-news – Tater Talk A listing on www.ncsweetpotatoes.com (2) mailings per year to our growers in print or electronic BENEFITS INCLUDE

coco@ncsweetpotatoes.com

919-894-1067

Join Us for a SWEET time in North Carolina JANUARY 22-24, 2023

Wilmington, NC

Scan to register or visit https://qrco.de/bdEtHq

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CAPITOL BRIEFS

three pending cases which have not yet been resolved, two in the state courts and one in federal court. Voter ID will not be required in November 2022 because of the Holmes v. Moore case, where the North Carolina Court of Appeals blocked the law. This case is now with the North Carolina Supreme Court, where the plaintiffs are trying to get an expedited review so that the Democrat-majority court can issue an opinion before the election where they may lose the majority. In the second state constitutional case, NAACP v. Moore, the plaintiffs challenged the validity of the entire legislature. They argued that if some legislators were elected in unconsti tutional gerrymandered districts, the legislature should not have the power to approve laws or constitutional amend ments. In a 4-3 party-line vote, the NC Supreme Court agreed with many of the plaintiff ’s theories. The Court stated that the legislature should have had some authority which was needed to avoid “chaos and confusion in government,” but accepted the Plaintiff ’s idea that their authority should be restricted in certain areas. The case now goes back to the trial court for a new ruling based on the Supreme Court’s new guidance. The only remaining federal challenge to the constitutional amend ments is NAACP v. Raymond. The case was paused as the United States Supreme Court ruled on a motion to intervene by the legislature after the legislature accused the state attorney general of re fusing to vigorously defend the law. The United States Supreme Court C O N T I N U E D

John Cooper Connect C NORTH CAROLINA REPORT

The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its scheduled August session without any votes and only a few committee meetings. The next session will be held September 20-22. Now is the best time to make contributions to those seeking State Senate and House offices. The General Assembly will continue to meet for a few days each month until the end of the year. If a compromise is reached on Medicaid expansion, a vote could occur on short notice. Otherwise, we expect the ses sions to continue without much activ ity. While the General Assembly has been out of town, there has been much activity in our courts which affect all North Carolinians. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – Abortion Laws After the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade ear lier in the year, the question of abor tion restrictions has been returned to the states. In the 1970s, the state of North Carolina passed a ban on abor

tions after 20 weeks with exceptions for the health and life of the mother. In 2019, this law was partially blocked by a federal court and prohibited from restricting any abortions “pre-viability.” After the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s HealthOrganizationwhich over-turned Roe v. Wade, the same federal court revisited its earlier ruling, and it lifted the injunction. Abortion is now illegal in North Carolina after 20 weeks except in cases where the health or life of the mother is in jeopardy. Holmes v. Moore, NAACP v. Moore, and NAACP v. Raymond – Voter ID and our State Constitution In 2018, the citizens of North Carolina voted to approve a consti tutional amendment which required voter identification at the polls, and another amendment which placed a cap on the state’s ability to tax income. When these amendments were implemented by the legislature in the next session, the NAACP and oth er groups challenged them according to several different legal theories. There

CAPITOL BRIEF’S CONTINUED ruled in favor of the legislature, and so now te General Assembly can intervene in all lawsuits which present federal challengeto state stat utes. A calendar has not been set for briefing or trials, but we expect to hear from the judge soon to direct the parties on the next steps.

LET US HANDLE THE NEMATODES SO YOU CAN HANDLE EVERYTHING ELSE. TELONE™ II is the premiere preplant soil fumigant for managing the major species of nematodes that negatively impact sweetpotatoes, including guava root knot. Apply TELONE™ before planting, to create a zone of protection around delicate developing root systems, leading to healthier plants and higher yields.

The US House and US Senate continue their second session of the 117 th Congress with limitedCongressional activity beyond completely FY 2022 funding back in February 2022. They are currently working on FY 2023 Appropriations funding (expires September 30, 2022), additional funding for defense-related measure supporting theUkrainewar. There continues to be some interest in additional covid fund ing, but unsure if both parties can agree on a new package. The US Senate was able to approve a new Supreme Court Justice that will take the vacant seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer after the Supreme Court ends its term on June 30 th . One item that Congress may have a consensus on at some point this session of Congress is the COMPETES Act that has passed both Houses of Congress and is currently in Conference Committee to work out the differences between the two bodies. The COMPETES Act primarily addresses competition between the United States and China. Both House and Senate Agriculture Committees have held hy brid hearings of the 2023 Farm Bill re newal, but likely would be a moot point if Congress changes majorities in the November elections. In addition, Congress will likely pass a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before Congress recessing in October for the November 2022 mid-term elections. FEDERAL REPORT Brad Edwards Jenkins Hill Consulting

Contact a TELONE™ Specialist to learn more: www.TeleosAg.com

TELONE™ is a Trademark of the Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow, used under license. TELONE™ is a federally Restricted Use Pesticide. Always read and follow label directions.

WHY NCDA&CS MARKET NEWS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

Have you ever wondered WHY NCDA&CS keeps track of shipments or had the question “What would happen if the industry stopped participating?” As shippers drop out, the data suffers as the information becomes less representative than if 100 percent participation was available. As the report loses integrity, more participation is lost, and eventually the report is determined to be “no longer repre sentative” and is ultimately canceled. Once that happens, it is extremely unlikely that the report will be reinstated and the farmers and packers will be less prepared for price negotiations with buyers, because buyers will have more information than the your sales force. This information is collected on regular intervals and is easy to preparee. On

Monday, Market News collects shipment data from the previous Thursday-Sunday and on Thursday, shipments from Monday- Wednesday. They also request the price range for each grade and package or bulk price for processing. Bottom line, Market News wants to help the farmers of North Carlolina by providing this valuable information, but for it to be valuable, participation is key. The greater the percentage of participation, the more accurate and valuable the report becomes. We know times have changed and time is money. Phone calls can be inefficient if the staff is not ready when the reporter calls. We are working collectively from both NCSPC as well as NCDA&CS to streamline this process. Let us know what would be

beneficial for you! Contact:

coco@ncsweetpotatoes.com or jeremiah.lanning@ncagr.gov with any thoughts or suggestions as we work towards a better and more efficient process. Participation requires a commitment on the part of management to ensure thier staff understands the expectation to provide the information to Market News accurately and within the needed timeframe required to meet the publication deadline. Remember, consistent participation is KEY and the report is only as accurate as the data provided. Help us ensure we do NOT lose this program!

February 06, 2022 - August 27, 2022 NC MARKETING REPORT

F.O.B price range

The 2021 crop season total to date (August 29, 2021 thru August 27, 2022) is: 11,768,762 (40 pound cartons fresh market sweet potatoes) this compares to 12,437,820 (40 pound cartons fresh market sweetpotatoes) for the total to date last season of the 2020 crop .

For questions, comments, concerns or if you are willing to become a contributor, pelase contact JeremiahLanning,NCDA&CSMarketNewsReporter, at (919) 707-3118 or Jeremiah.Lanning@ncagr.gov .

* Source: NCDA&CS Market News

can help us stay more mentally clear, nourish ourselves adequately, and make time for people and things that are important to us. Deep Breathing – Deep breathing can play a significant role in our stress levels and hormonal responses. It may not seem like a big deal, but tak ing deep breaths can move your body into a parasympathetic, more relaxed state. Deep breaths tell our brains that we have any perceived threats un der control. Start by counting to five as you inhale, hold the breath in for two seconds, and release it to a count of five. Try to do this a few times throughout the day to stay grounded. Prioritize Sleep – Insufficient sleep is linked to an increase in our

THE “SWEET SIDE” OF HEALTHY SARAH SCHLICHTER, MPH, RDN

In early August, I had the pleasure of visiting the NCSP Commission office in Benson, as well as several local farms. I got to engage with growers, learn more about the process of growing, harvesting, storing, and shipping sweetpotatoes, and see first hand all of the time, effort, and hard work that each of you are putting forth each day. To me, as someone who communicates on your behalf, this was so valuable to see in person. I appreciated the candor of the farmers who gave me a glimpse into their long days, the challenges they face, and how we can work to provide information to fight the myths and disinformation related to farming and farming practices. So, suffice it to say, you’ll be hearing more from me over the next year through this newsletter and on the blog about some of these important conversations. One main theme that popped up quite frequently throughout all of my conversations was the topic of stress management. As growers, farmers, and people involved in agriculture in all sorts of ways, you all are busy, to

put it simply. You’re often up before the sun, working throughout the hot days (and maybe not taking time to stop for a nutritious lunch), and working until after the sun goes down. And aside from the labor of just procuring, growing, and shipping crops, you have paperwork and other logistics that need to be attended to. Then, just like everyone else, you’re faced with the challenge of wanting to spend time with your family and kids, figuring out what’s for dinner, doing the bedtime routine, trying to tie up any loose ends with the business, and then starting over again. I’m sure most of you feel like the days aren’t long enough to fit in all of your many responsibilities, especially as we head into the sweetpotato harvest season. With that being said, I thought it would be helpful to share some stress relief and management techniques. While most of us don’t have or take the time to slow down, many of the techniques below can actually help us be more productive in the long run. More importantly, these practices

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Stress Management, Continued

stress hormones, cortisol, and adrena line. So, try to prioritize those Z’s when you can, even if it means skipping out on some of that nighttime work. Insufficient sleep is linked to an increase in appetite and hunger hormones, often causing us to overeat, as well as an increased risk of several chronic diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and more. Stretching – When you’re stressed, your body reacts by tensing up your muscles. Incorporating some stretching, massage, and/or light yoga can help loosenup yourmuscles, which canbenefit blood flow, mood, mobility, and more. Manage Social Media Time – While social media can have benefits for connection and even provide marketing for your farm or business, it can also steal precious time from you and what needs to be done. It can also lead to bad habits, especially before bed. Consider outsourcing this for your business, or setting strict limits on when you can access social media and certain apps. Stay Hydrated – Digestion, nutrient absorption, cognition, and nearly every other system in your body is affected when you don’t drink enough water, so it’s important to make sure you’re drinking adequately throughout the day. Aim for at least half of your body weight (lbs) in

ounces as a starting point – For example, a 160 lb person would aim to drink at

Do you know how to use the Member Portal? Do you need assistance logging in? On a PC, visit us at ncsweetpoatoes.com and click on the orange Mem ber Sign in/Sign Up Button at the top of the screen. If you are using a mobile device suce as a cell phone or tablet, Click on the three bars on the left side of the screenand then tap on Member Sign in. Still struggling? Call the office and we are happy to help (919)894-1067! We created this tool for YOU to use. By ensureing we have up-to-date information on not only YOU, but your staff as well. This will allow us to send you information regarding, meetings, events and so much more. Make sure we have the BEST way to contact with you and your operation. Help us keep in touch ! • String cheese • Fruit, like apples, bananas, or anges and peaches and pears (Frozen fruit and canned fruits in their own juices can be great alternatives to fresh also • Nuts and seeds • Make ahead protein shakes or smoothies • Sandwiches or breakfast bur ritos you can make in advance and stick in the freezer • Hard boiled eggs • Celery with peanut butter • Protein bars (Aim for at least 8-10 grams of protein) • Jerky • Canned tuna or salmon • Frozen PB&J’s Remember, aswe head intoharvest, the days can seem long. Be sure to adopt some of these healthy habits and techniques so you can take care of yourself day in and day out, which in the long run, should enable better health and more productivity.

least 80 oz/day. Check out our August blog post on hydration for more tips! Eat 3 meals a day + snacks – Stress affects our immunity and overall well- being by depleting our bodies of certain vitamins and minerals. While we all may have an idea of what we should be eating, the question is how do we implement it when we’re busy and overwhelmed? You also may not have access to healthy foods or a quick lunch when you need it. If possible, plan ahead on your off days and buy in bulk, or stock up on convenient nutrient-dense options like:

25

2023

Annual Meeting of Membership Registration now open

Two ways to register:

Scan a QR code 1) Open the camera app.

2) Focus the camera on the QR code by gently tapping the code 3) Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the action.

OR VISIT:

www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/register

Location The Maxwell Center 3114 Wayne Memorial Dr Goldsboro, NC 27534 Date / Time Thursday, January 19, 2023 Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Contact Us 919-894-1067 communications@ncsweetpotatoes.com

www.ncsweetpotatoes.com

NCSPC WEBSITE REQUEST

Please fill out and return this form with your assessment dues if you wish to be listed as a member.

Please check all areas you wish to be listed:  NCSPC Website  SweetPotato Speak Newsletter

Type of Business:

 Grower  Packer/Shipper  Processor/Manufacturer  NC Certified Seed Producer

Contact Information (Primary Contact for NCSPC)

Company Name: Address (please incude city state and zip) Contact Person Phone

Fax

Main Contact E-Mail Address Company Website (to be listed on NCSPC site) Additional Personnel to be listed on NCSPC Website/SweetPotato Speak Please list complete information below to ensure we have all points of contact for each person to be listed!

Name/Title Email/Phone (indicate office or cell) Name/Title Email/Phone (indicate office or cell) Name/Title Email/Phone (indicate office or cell) Name/Title Email/Phone (indicate office or cell)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Products

Business Description for NCSPC Website (100 words or less)

You will ONLY be listed with a completed form each year!

North Carolina SweetPotato Commission 700 E. Parrish Dr., Suite C Benson, NC 27504

919.894.1067 ph 919.894.7018 fax www.ncsweetpotatoes.com

2022 NCSPC CALENDAR

Sept. 5 Sept. 14

| Labor Day, NCSPC Office Closed

Oct. 11

| BoD Meeting 6:00 PM - NCSPC Office

| Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM NCSPC Office Sept. 18-20 | Nutrition News Promotion - Scottsdale, AZ Sept. 19-22 | Star Chefs Promotion - New Orleans, LA Oct. 1 | Convention Early Bird Registration ENDS

Oct. 14-20 | SIAL Promotion - Paris, France Oct. 19 | PSI Tour Oct. 26

| Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM NCSPC Office

Oct. 28

| Tuna Run Event 1:00 PM

The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission Inc. is a nonprofit corporation made up of over 400 sweetpotato growers along with the packers, processors and business associates that support them. The sole purpose of the commission is to increase sweetpotato consumption through education, promotional activities, research and honorable horticultural practices among its producers. Thanks to the six sweetpotato farmers that chartered the commission in 1961, the commission has supported its growers and maintained North Carolina as the No. 1 sweetpotato producing state in the United States since 1971.