Sweet potatoes are even more American than apple pie. Native Americans were already growing sweet potatoes when Columbus came to these shores in 1492. Sweet potatoes have been growing in the South since as early as 1648.

Sweet potatoes are not even potatoes! In fact, they aren't even distant cousins. Potatoes are tubers from the solanaceae family. Sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). So, sweet potatoes are actually closely related to yams.

What's in a name? When it comes to the yam, a bit of confusion. A "yam" is really a variety of sweet potato grown in the South.

North Carolina is the leader in sweet potato production, supplying 40% of the annual US production of sweet potatoes.

Popular, moist-fleshed sweet potato varieties grown in North Carolina include the Beauregard, Hernandez, Japanese, Picadito, and O'Henry White.

North Carolina sweet potatoes are available year-round.