Originating in South America, sweet potatoes also have roots in Polynesia, where they go by the name ‘kumar.’ Although a distant relative of the potato, sweet potatoes are commonly referred to as yams in North America. These versatile tubers come in ‘firm’ and ‘soft’ varieties, with the former maintaining their firmness when cooked, while the latter become soft and moist. In the United States, the ‘soft’ varieties are often labeled as yams. Their outer skin can range from red, brown, purple, and white, while the flesh inside comes in white, yellow, orange, or purple hues. Leading the production in the United States, North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes, closely followed by California, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Beyond their delicious taste, sweet potatoes pack a nutritional punch, being rich in vitamins A, C, B, and B6, niacin, and riboflavin, as well as minerals like calcium and potassium. Sea to Sky Farm and Phil Foster Ranch (Pinnacle) offer organic sweet potatoes at our farmers’ markets.
How to Select: Choose firm sweet potatoes. Don’t buy potatoes that have soft spots, cracks, or bruised skin.
How to Store: Store sweet potatoes loose in a dark, cool place where they will keep fresh for about 10 days. Do NOT store them in a plastic bag or in the refrigerator.
RECIPES: Sweet Potato Casserole with Toasted Pecan and Coconut Streusel, Indian Yam Curry, Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Croutons, Roasted Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Soup with Buttered Pecans, Sweet Potato Pecan Pie, Curried Sweet Potato Latkes, Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Caribbean Sweet Potatoes, Scalloped Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Muffins, How to Steam Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato and Gouda Gratin, Chili Glazed Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Wild Plum’s Roasted Yam Mash
Photo submitted by Chris Laughlin, Sea to Sky Farm
