Sweetpotato Speak March 2022 - Spring issue
1 Brent Leggett, PRESIDENT Leggett Farming Partnership Rob Hill, VICE PRESIDENT Tull Hill Farms Kim K. LeQuire, SECRETARY- TREASURER Kornegay Family Farms & Produce Sarah Carraway Lancaster Farms Clay Gardner CEG Farms, Inc. Frank Howell Howell Farming Co., Inc. Jim Jones Jones Family Farms 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 ad or an article to the Sweetpotato Speak please contact: CoCo Daughtry Communications Specialist Email: [email protected] Phone: (919) 894-1067 2022 Board of Directors NCSPC Staff Michelle Grainger, Executive Director Cindy Vanderhoof, Financial & Operations Specialist CoCo Daughtry, Communications Specialist Brittany Beasley, Intern 700 E. Parrish Dr. Suite C Benson, NC 27504 (919) 894-1067
2 Subscription to SweetPotato Speak, published four times per year, is by membership to the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, Inc. The material contained herein is for informational purposes only and may be different from your point of view. It is the belief of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, Inc. that formulation of process and standards work best through collaborative discussions. That said, we ask that you get involved with the NCSPC, attend hosted grower meetings and functions and share your views. It takes us all to keep the industry strong! TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 03 Capitol Briefs A report from state and federal lobbyists Page 05 NCDA Market News Report Page 07 A Few Minutes with Michelle Executive Director reviews the last quarter Page 09, 18 Sweet Side of Healthy Articles for our farming families, written with you in mind by our Registered Dietitian, Sarah Schlichter. Page 10 Domestic Marketing Page 11 International Marketing Page 16 Associate Members Page 27 NCSPC Calendar of Events
3 CAPITOL BRIEFS NORTH CAROLINA REPORT John Cooper Connect C After months of discussion and negotiation, a state budget compromise was finally enacted at the end of last year. After a strong bipartisan vote in both the NC Senate and NC House, Governor Cooper signed the budget into law. This is the first complete state budget signed since his election as Governor in 2016. The budget spends a total of $25.9 billion in FY 2021-22 and $27 billion in 2022-23. The compromise proposal contains raises and bonuses for teachers and state employees, commits $6 billion to the infrastructure fund for capital projects and to pay down debt, and allocates $1 billion for broadband expansion. The budget also makes several changes to the tax code including increasing the standard deduction to $25,500, cutting the personal income tax rate from 5.99% to 3.99% by 2027, increasing the child tax deductionby$500perchild, andeliminatingthecorporate tax rate by 2030 with reductions beginning in the year 2025. The budget funds all state agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA). In the NCDA budget, the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission will receive total of $5 million dollars over two years, which must be used to fund a research collaboration with NC State University to study nematode mitigation. NCDA will also receive $154,000 to be used by their Agronomy Division for two permanent nematode technician positions. In 2022, the North Carolina legislature and our court system has been busy discussing redistricting, the map-drawing process which will determine our maps for State House, Senate, and Congressional districts for the next ten years. The legislature passed its maps last November along party lines, with all Republicans voting for the maps and all Democrats voting against. The maps are not subject to a veto according to our state Constitution, but they were immediately challenged in court by Democrat-led groups. On December 8, the North Carolina Supreme Court granted an injunction which moved the primary election from March 8 to May 17 and suspended the candidate filing deadline until further notice. Some candidates were able to file before the deadline was suspended, but many are still waiting to file. On January 11, a three-judge panel of Superior Court judges unanimously voted to uphold the maps. However, on February 4 the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned the lower court and ruled the maps were unconstitutional. Their determination was based on new interpretations of several sections of the North Carolina Constitution, and it sets a new precedent for redistricting in the state of North Carolina. The vote fell along party lines, with all four Democrat Justices voting to strike the maps and all three Republican Justices voting to uphold them. The Court’s order gave the legislature two weeks to submit new maps to the Superior Court and directed the Superior Court to make a final determination by February 23. The Supreme Court also allowed the Democrat plaintiffs to submit their own maps to the Superior Court for consideration. The same three-judge panel of Superior Court judges reviewed the new maps and issued a ruling, using a special master who is a redistricting expert to help analyze. There may still be outstanding questions to be answered by the Courts before the maps are finalized.
4 The US House and US Senate recessed in December following passage of an extension on the debt ceiling agreement that extends the current debt ($29.1 trillion) by $2.5 trillion until January 2023 along party line votes. Congress also passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on a bi-partisan vote that sets the funding and program requests for the Department of Defense for the next fiscal year. In addition, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) until February 18, 2022 to fund the government for Fiscal Year 22. When Congress returns in 2022, they will work to finalize FY 22 funding prior to February 18, 2022 deadline. Efforts by the Biden Administration and House and SenateDemocratMajorities failed toreachanagreement on the proposed Build, Back, Better (BBB) legislation prior toCongressdeparting inDecember. After Congress returned in January, they worked to finalize FY 22 funding prior to February 18, 2022 deadline, but had to do another extension until March 11, 2022. FEDERAL REPORT Brad Edwards Jenkins Hill Consulting
NCMARKETINGREPORT December 18, 2021 - February 05, 2022 F.O.B price range The 2021 crop season total to date (August 29, 2021 thru February 05, 2022) is: 4,599,614 (40 pound cartons fresh market sweet potatoes) this compares to 5,025,030 (40 pound cartons fresh market sweet potatoes) for the total to date last season of the 2020 crop. * Source: NCDA&CS Market News For questions, comments, concerns or if you are willing to become a contributor, pelase contact Karrie Gonzalez, NCDA&CSMarket News Supervisor, at (919) 707-3121 or [email protected].
6 FROM GRANCO MINERALS Soil News Soil Environment A healthy soil environment is critical for growing any crop and sweet potatoes are no exception. The additon of gypsum to your existing fertility program will not only increase the effiency of your N P K and add much needed calcium and sulfur but improve soil structure. Over time the addition of gypsum improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil resulting in improved water penetration, increased soil aggregation, less compaction and better soil stability. Gypsum also reduces sodium and aluminum levels. Gypsum provides calcium that exchanges place on soil particles with sodium, the sulfur captures the sodium which becomes sodium sulfate and gets carried away in the soil water. In acid subsoils, soluble aluminum is toxic to plant roots. The calcium in gypsum will displace aluminum, allowing it to be leached below the root levels. Contact Information Granco Minerals – 23011 Airpark Drive, Petersburg, VA 23803 T0ll Free 800-798-5605 Email: [email protected] www.grancominerals.com Sweetpotatoes: Are you maximizing potential? Sweetpotatoes are one of the few truly indigenous crops to North America. Fortunately for growers on the eastern part of the U.S., sweetpotatoes like warm temperatures and well drained and slightly acidic soils. Most growers are well versed in the NPK needs of their crop but to maximize their true potential in yield, quality and shelf life, a well-rounded nutrient program should include gypsum! Gypsum is one of the most versatile supplements you can add to your fertilizer program. It is a highly available form of Calcium and Sulfur. Gypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaS04.2H2O) and therefore a great source of both calcium and sulfur. Not only do plants require calcium as a nutrient but it is required for uptake of other essential minerals. For it to be successful, it must get to the root zone! Gypsum is 200 times more soluble than lime thus making it a better choice. Sulfur deficiencies are more common now than in the past and you don’t have to worry about the sulfur in gypsum burning the crops. Sweetpotato yield potential is usually determined within the first month or so after planting. Make sure your crop has what it needs from the outset. The table below shows the nutrient requirement for sweetpotatoes. Although soil tests may show adequate Ca in the soil, often it is unavailable to the plant. Many of the best sweetpotato growers on the east coast use 250 lbs. of Progyp with their normal NPK applications. Progyp is the purest form of gypsum on the market (99%) and contains 24% Ca and 19% sulfur. Ca and S improves tuber development, quality, yield, and shelf-life. Nitrogen must have sulfur in balance for nitrogen utilization (7:1) and protein production. • Soil pH needs to be slightly acidic for optimum production. • Ca improves soil balance, root growth, nutrient uptake, and plant development. Progyp also does not affect the soil pH.. For questions, please contact Granco Minerals. Thank you. J. Holland Jordan, Ph.D. Agronomist 0 10 20 30 40 50 Ca S Cwt/A 250 Nutrient Requirements for Sweetpotatoes
7 Being that I have never been one to rest on my laurels, but rather look towards the future, I can’t wait to share what the first quarter of 2022 has had us up to in this column! We started the year with a bang by hosting our first annual member’s meeting in two years in Goldsboro at the Maxwell Center. It was fantastic to see so many who were able to attend and we are grateful for our many incredible sponsors who helped make your member’s meeting such a success! As a matter of fact, be sure to check out all of our sponsors in this SPS issue as we have highlighted them throughout! Greetings NC Sweetpotato Friends! I feel like it has been a hot minute since I last connected with you through SweetPotato Speak. While we had not intended to miss our December 2021 publication, it is a true reflection of just how busy we were this past fall. If you were able to join us in January for our Annual Meeting, perhaps you saw our 4th Quarter Sizzle Reel and if you missed that part of the meeting, you can always revisit at https:// ncsweetpotatoes.com/news/2021a-year-in-review/. Additionally, you can find the remaining quarters of the year’s activity in this same location! Each video is about 90 seconds in length and will hopefully give you a good idea of what we were up to in 2021! A FEW MINUTES WITH MICHELLE Your NCSPC office staff then had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas to attend the 2022 National Sweetpotato Convention. In doing so, this allowed me an opportunity that I have been waiting for since I joined the Commission in 2020 and that is to meet others in the industry across the country. It was fantastic and I appreciated how warm and welcoming everyone was. Most exciting, as this year’s host, California, graciously extended me the opportunity to take the stage and formally invite everyone to travel to Wilmington, NC for the 2023 National Convention! So go ahead and mark your calendar for an exciting January 2023!! January 19th Annual Meeting of Membership in Goldsboro, NC, and January 22nd – 24th National Convention, Wilmington, NC. Be sure to check out our National Convention promotional video put together by our marketing firm, FullTilt! (This video can be found at https://youtu.be/0E5nAuDwPJs.
8 Additionally, we held a preview party with series host, Chip Cater, at the Barn at Broadslab where we debuted our 2-part episode featuring NC Sweetpotatoes in his new National TV Series, Where the Food Comes From, which airs on RFD-TV every Thursday evening. It was such an amazing night and allowed many of us to come together and celebrate just why this industry is not only great, it is sweet too, and now the rest of the world has the chance to watch and learn all about what it is that we do! As if National Sweetpotato Month couldn’t get any better, we revealed one last sweet surprise as we continue to celebrate our year-long 60th Anniversary celebration… in the form of a SWEET Toast! A Double Oaked Barrel Bourbon toast that is! The Johnston County Bourbon Society (JCBS) approached us this past summer with an amazing invitation to help select their 6th Barrel pick which was in partnership with Woodford Reserve. While we ‘picked our barrel’ in June, the bottles did not arrive until February (thank you supply chain issues!) and they were quickly scooped up by both bourbon aficionados and collectors alike! The JCBS commissioned local artist Robynn Hales of Red Feather Designs to create the art which appears on this collector’s edition of bourbon. It is absolutely beautiful and the original piece, including the barrel head, will proudly hang in our office for years to come. As we enter March, which is National Nutrition month, we will be promoting all of the nutritional benefits of our favorite veggie and working to collaborate with some incredibly exciting organizations and individuals. Stay tuned to our social media accounts, and be sure that you are receiving your weekly edition of Tater Talk (every Tuesday via email) and of course, don’t hesitate to stop by our office to say ‘hello’ next time you are in Benson! The planning for the convention is well underway and we will soon be sharing details, however, I can promise you that this will be an event you do not want to miss! In February, we celebrated National Sweetpotato Month, while it may be our shortest month of the year, we more than maximized every day we had to promote NC Sweetpotatoes! We ran a statewide billboard campaign with a total of 16 billboards running from Asheville to Wilmington and a few points in between. The messages on these boards varied from our production leadership to our superfood status, to educating about the one-word spelling to the versatility and natural immunity-boosting elements of our favorite root all while using strong graphics and beautiful imagery of sweetpotatoes prepared in a number of ways! For our digital boards, we even changed the messages based on the time of day to promote various ways one may enjoy a sweetpotato at different times of the day. We couldn’t stop there, as we also had a few other surprises up our sleeves. Additionally, we unveiled a pilot partnership with Harris Teeter Pharmacy where we worked through the use of graphic advertisements to make the connection of Food as Medicine – by promoting NC Sweetpotatoes and the many nutritional benefits one receives when consuming sweetpotatoes and put a message, complete with QR code to our recipes on their prescription bags. The Pharmacy team could not be more excited about this message!
9 THE “SWEET SIDE” OF HEALTHY FROM YOUR REGISTERED DIETITIAN, SARAH SCHLICHTER, MPH, RDN While we still find ourselves in unpredictable times, we hope you and your loved ones are experiencing good health. This quarter’s article will focus on health, and how doing “less” and resting can translate to “more” later. If this last year and a half has taught us anything, it is that we can’t take health for granted, and the healthy behaviors we instill now will impact us down the road. Now that the sweetpotato harvest is behind us, it’s time for our farmers to rest! While the idea of rest during the holiday season may seem foreign, taking some time to “do less” and relaxing now can actually help you achieve more in the new year. Are you curious yet? Keep reading! Farming is undoubtedly a time- intensive, physically intensive job, and due to schedule constraints, many farmers may not be able to eat consistent meals or snacks when out in the fields. Thismay lead to undereating and low energy, and/or overeating later on in the day. Staying hydrated is another challenge while out in the heat. And of course, getting started extra early before the temps get too hot makes for long days where sleep may be cut short. Furthermore, little things “crop up” (see what I did there?) and plans change, and farmers need to adapt to unpredictable situations, such as the weather, animals, and other variables that come into play, such as a global pandemic. All of thisalso takesamental toll on the body. Mental health is a strong part of overall health and many of these things command mental attention and focus, which leaves less mental energy for other things. Therefore, taking an intentional break and giving your mind time to reset is essential. Take the time to rest, nourish your body and spend time with friends and family to support your physical, mental, and emotional health. Quality sleep is essential for the body and can help you recover from hard days out in the fields. Sufficient sleep is also vital for brain function, memory, concentration, hormonal health, exercise, mood, and well-being. Use this time to try a new recipe (we have several creative sweetpotato recipes to choose from so you can enjoy your crop!), and practice establishing new healthy habits before the new year. Some benefits of intentional rest and relaxation include: - Improved mood - Reduced stress and anxiety - Decreased blood pressure - Improved immune health - Improved cardiovascular measures - Improved sleep - More consistent hunger/fullness cues While the body is equipped to handle short term periods of stress, longer, chronic stress can be detrimental to your health. This is because chronic stress leads to inflammation, altered hormones, poor sleep, poor immunity, and more. A 2008 study published in Primary Care explains how stress affects the endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, and cardiovascular systems. The whole body is affected one way or another. During your time of rest, sometimes think about not just New Year’s resolutions that tend to be temporary, but lifestyle changes that you can keep throughout the year and beyond. Here are some questions to consider: • What’s something you want to be doing every day that you’re not doing now? • Are you getting 7+ hours of sleep a night? If not, what would it take to do so? • Are you seeing your doctor regularly? Regular check-ups are important for preventative health! • Are you eating 3-5+ servings of fruits/vegetables a day? • Are you sitting all day? How can you break up long periods of sitting? • What form of movement do you actually enjoy? • Do you drink excessive caffeine or alcohol? Are there substitutes that you can incorporate? • Do you rely mostly on processed foods? Are there more natural alternatives you can incorporate? • Can you pack a lunch during the week rather than eat out? • Do you carry a water bottle with you to remind you to drink enough during the day? • Are you getting enough protein throughout the day? A minimum of 1 gram per kg of body weight is a good place to start (To find your weight in kg, simply divide your weight in lbs. by 2.2). Bottom line: Take this time to give your body the rest it deserves, so you can step into the new year feeling motivated, energized and ready to conquer anything! What Happens When We Do Too Much: The Power of Rest
DOMESTIC MARKEING WITH FULLTILT legislative updates. Watch your upcoming TaterTalk for links to re-watch these presentations! Ahead of this event, we had the chance to create some amazing “Year in Review” sizzle videos. Not only did these videos allow us to reflect on all the amazing accomplishments and great memories made in 2021, but it also made us feel extra thankful to be part of such a great industry! Happy New Year! We’re happy to report that chilly temperatures, along with winter storms, didn’t keep us from promoting our favorite orange superfood! In fact, we’ve been REALLY busy these past few months! We kicked off winter in the giving spirit. Along with Ripe Revival, we hosted a Holiday Giveaways in both November and December. The goal of these initiatives was to provide hams, turkeys and our beloved North Carolina sweetpotatoes, to brighten the holiday spirits of families in need. We’re delighted to announce that in December we were able to present a $10,000 check to the Pretty in Pink Foundation, who is dedicated to ensuring that all breast cancer patients in North Carolina receive medical treatment regardless of their ability to pay. Proceeds were raised through a live auction at our 2021 FarmHER event, as well as through the sale of limited-edition co-branded Farm Babe t-shirts, a dedicated North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Giving Page, and numerous donations from peers and industry members! In January we held our Annual Meeting of Membership at The Maxell Center in Goldsboro. The day consisted of addresses from multiple industry leaders on a range of topics including business, education, as well as Anticipating National Sweetpotato Month, we created billboards that are currently on display throughout the state: be on the lookout as you’re driving throughout North Carolina! We kicked off a social media promotion in collaboration with the Farm Credit Assocaitions of North Carolina. This month-long photo contest throughout February gave consumers as well as industry members the opportunity to tell us, “ What Do Sweetpotatoes Mean to You?” through storytelling by way of photography – with a chance to win cash prizes (up to $500) and swag! Entries were collected on March 1st, posted on Facebook and Instagram at @ncsweetpotatoes to allow followers to vote for their favorite. While at the time of printing we don’t know the winner just yet, follow us and follow this promotion at # S w e e t V i e wW i t h F a r mC r e d i t as well as @farmcredit @capefearfarmcredit, and @agcarolinacredit for more details and help us spread the word! As always, the FullTilt team is ready for more fun throughout the year to promote our favorite orange superfood!
11 INTERNATIONAL Europe: NC Sweetpotatoes literally on everyone’s lips Trending: Reels are successful social media tools One highlighted activity of the last few months is mk2’s recent reels project, which rolled-out an international digital campaign positioning North Carolina sweetpotatoes as a versatile, healthy, and delicious ingredient. This trendy social media content sparks great use of efforts since the reels can easily be used in all of our international markets. These 30-second reel videos, aim to inspire the community by featuring the versatility of sweetpotatoes with simple and fresh recipe ideas. Reels featuring recipes for “NC Sweetpotato hummus”, “Smashed NC Sweetpotatoes” and “NC Sweetpotato chocolate mousse” were well received on Instagram and Facebook – resulting in over 200,000 consumer-watched videos and nearly 5,000 likes so far. In January 2022, mk2 released reels to highlight the Europe-wide influencer campaign #veganuary. These reels were a huge success and continue to grow our international “NC Sweetpotato” community. Stay tuned to learn more about the successful #veganuary campaign in our next newsletter. Print and digital media readers love sweetpotato recipes! North Carolina Sweetpotatoes continue to be a hot topic in trade and consumer magazines. Trade media continues to praise the North Carolina Sweetpotato industry with continuous media connections.mk2 hassuccessfullymanaged to place NCSP in an editorial USA country report (4-page article) in one of Germany’s leading trademagazines. Lebensmittel Praxis magazine (‘food practice’) features NCSP as a key agricultural product grown in the USA, reaching over 120,000 readers that are important decision-makers in the German food industry. Whether in the classic trade and consumer magazines or in social media sweetpotatoes from North Carolina continue their success with tremendous media coverage on all channels. Through our multi-prong communication strategy, North Carolina Sweetpotatoes are promoted and recommended by key opinion leaders across Europe, resulting in increased sales volumes and consumption of North Carolina sweetpotatoes. Fast growing NCSP Community European NCSP social media channels are constantly increasing. Established channels in Germany, Poland, and Sweden have shown continuous growth. Additionally, the newcomer channels in UK and Denmark are off to a great start. The NCSP Instagram channel in UK, which was set up in mid-2020, has been successful in building a large community over the past 15 months, with around 1,400 followers. Likewise, the newest NCSP community in Denmark increased to over 700 fans and followers in only five months reaching more than 150,000 Danish customers with sweetpotato content.
12 MARKETING Sweet hot topic in European media High-end food and lifestyle magazines feature our sweet superfood as a versatile ingredient and showcase their popularity. In Germany alone, mk2 has recorded over 220 print media publications on sweetpotatoes in 2021, with a reach of 800 million contacts. These print and online articles present sweetpotatoes in an appealing way to German consumers and represent a media equivalent value of over 6 million US dollars. For example, Germany’s top family food magazine “Meine Familie & ich” (‘My Family and Me’) with almost 1.5 million readers highlighted a NCSP waffle recipe. In addition to the recipe, the article featured interesting facts about sweetpotatoes and suggested tasty ideas for parents and children to cook together while focusing the versatility of sweetpotatoes. Four NCSP recipes were featured in a special interest magazine for diabetes. diabetes LIVING is the go-to source for eating, evaluating, shopping, and living better with diabetes. The focus is on service and advice-oriented topics focusing on living with diabetes.
16 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ARCOLA HARDWOOD CO. 252-257-4484 [email protected] ASPENSALESGROUP 908-234-1205 www.aspensalesgroup.com B&B PRODUCE 919-894-1803 [email protected] BARFOOTSOF BOTLEY +44-1243-261211 www.barfoots.com BENCHMARK BUILDINGS &IRRIGATION, INC. 252-398-3116 www.bbandi.com CAROLINA EASTERN BENSON 919-894-2922 www.carolina-eastern.com DUNBAR FOODS CORPORATION 910-892-3175 www.moodydunbar.com FARMCREDIT ASSOCIATIONSOFNC 704-761-2897 www.farmcreditofnc.com FARM FRESH PRODUCE 800-606-9267 www.farm-fresh-produce.com FROST, PLLC 919-782-8410 www.frostpllc.com GIROPACK INC. 678-231-5296 www.giro.es GRANCO MINERALS 865-696-9940 www.grancominerals.com HARVEY FARMS 919-750-9712 www.harveyfertilizerandgas.com HIGHLAND FRESH TECHNOLOGIES 813-951-2912 www.highlandfresh.net HILL TOP FARM SERVICE CENTER 919-894-4611 www.hilltopfarmservicecenter.com INTERNATIONALPAPER 910-258-1522 www.internationalpaper.com J.R. SIMPLOT 252-508-2677 www.simplot.com JOHN S.CONNER GLOBAL LOGISTICS 757-627-3910 www.jsconner.com KHS TRANSPORTATION BENNETT INT’L 252-206-5444 www.bennettig.com LANCASTERFARMSLLC 919-396-5617 [email protected] MANRY RAWLS 757-562-6131 www.manryrawls.com MCCAIN FOODS 715-697-6020 www.mccain.com MCALL FARMS 843-662-2223 www.yamright.com NASH PRODUCE 252-443-6011 www.nashproduce.com NATURE’S WAY FARMS 910-594-0096 www.nwfarms.com NC FARM BUREAU 919-302-9538 www.ncfb.org ~Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~Associate Members ~
17 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ~Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~ Associate Members ~ NC STATE PORTS 910-746-6415 www.ncports.com PIERCE CROP & SOIL 919-920-0238 [email protected] RABO AGRIFINANCE 855-818-6555 www.raboag.com ROBERSONPRODUCE 912-375-5760 www.robersononion.com RYES GREENHOUSES 919-499-8442 www.ryesgreenhouses.com S.A.I.L. 252-243-7245 www.sail.li SCOTT FARMS 919-284-4030 www.scottfarms.com SEV-REND 618-301-4132 www.dev-rend.com SNOW TRACTOR 252-746-8200 www.snowtractor.net SOUTHERNCONTAINER 252-237-0539 www.socontainers.com SPRING ACRES SALES 252-478-5127 www.springacres.com STEELEPLANTCOMPANY 731-648-5476 www.sweetpotatoplants.com STRICKLAND BROS. 252-478-3058 www.stricklandbros.com TELEOS AG SOLUTIONS 619-592-0858 www.teleosag.com TRIANGLERISKADVISORS 919-496-2239 www.triangleinsurance.com TRIEST AG GROUP 844-878-5178 www.triestirrigation.com TRINITY FROZEN FOODS 910-550-3796 www.trinityfrozenfoods.com TRP SUMNER PLLC 910-891-1100 www.trpcpa.com VICK FAMILY FARMS 252-237-7313 www.vickfamilyfarms.com - WADAFARMSMARKETING 919-578-4020 www.wadafarms.com WAKE STONE CORP 843-241-5883 www.wakestonecorp.com
18 A SWEET BIT MORE FROM YOUR REGISTERED DIETITIAN, SARAH SCHLICHTER, MPH, RDN Now that the new year is behind us, are you still on track for some of the goals you set? Have you ever thought about improving your cardiovascular health? February is National Heart Health Month. Our cardiovascular system powers our bodies, so the health of our heart, the leading factor, is extremely important. There are measures we can take each day to protect this vital organ. Now more than ever, focusing on small behaviors and behavior changes are important, as heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Whether you started 2022 with goals or resolutions, honing in on specifics and healthy behaviors is one strategy for creating sustainable goals. Bringing attention to these specific behaviors and actions, rather than outcomes, is important because we have control over our behaviors. For example, you may have heard that eating more fiber can be great for reducing cholesterol and overall heart health. While eating more fiber can be broad, translating that broad goal into something specific is empowering and more relatable. That may look like aiming to eat 2-4 servings of fruits and/or vegetables a day, or replacing white grain products with whole grain products. While February is a short month, it’s a great time to introduce some of these habits for you to build upon year round. They transition well into March, which is National Nutrition Month. While many farmers are working in the green house or bedding taters to prep their crops in these winter and early spring months, farmers can also be planting seeds for a healthful lifestyle year-round. Since farming requires sustained energy and physical labor, prepping your body and mind for this work is beneficial for livelihood and farming, but also, overall health. Here are some things you can do and changes you can make to improve your cardiovascular health: • Get your heart rate up – Even if you only have 10 minutes a day, incorporating moderate-intensity aerobic activity is great for your heart health. Aerobicactivityalsohelps improveblood flow, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and offers more stamina and ability to cope with stress. • Get more sleep – If you’re up at or before dawn to tend to the farm chores, try focusing on getting to bed a bit earlier. Sleep is important for every system and function of the body, and skipping on sleep is linked to higher weight and abdominal fat, poorer food choices, reduced blood sugar control, and less energy throughout the day. • Manage stress – We all have stressors in our daily lives, some more than others. How we manage those stressors can play a significant role in our health. Having outlets tohelp counteract stress is important, whether it’s exercise, sleep, journaling, therapy, hobbies, etc. • Monitor your sodium intake – Moderating sodium intake can help improve cardiovascular health, especially if you have high blood pressure or a family history of hypertension. Try to eat less processed foods, which can be high in sodium, or adding less salt at the table. • Increase fiber in your diet – Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes all offer ample amounts of fiber to our diets. Women and men should be aiming for upwards of 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day, respectively. Many Americans are not getting enough fiber in their diets. Try to include fruits and vegetables, like sweetpotatoes, into your snacks and meals. • Reduce added sugars - The overconsumption of added sugars is linked to chronic health conditions, such as obesity, cancer, dental issues, diabetes and more. Added sugars provide extra calories without nutritional benefits. Instead, try to limit added sugars,whilestickingtoadiethighinfruits,vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, lean meats, beans and legumes. • Incorporate unsaturated fats – Replacing some of the sources of saturated fats in your diet with unsaturated fats can help decrease total and LDL cholesterol, help prevent the accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries, and reduce inflammation in the body. Unsaturated fats are found in food sources such as olive oil, avocados, seafood, nuts and seeds. How can you increase your fruit and vegetable intake? Can you add some fruit or veggies to breakfast? Fresh, canned or frozen all provide similar and positive nutrition benefits. Can you pack a snack that includes fruits and/or vegetables, like Sweetpotato coconut energy bites or Sweetpotato Hummus? Replace a sugar sweetened beverage with a heart-healthy smoothie while you’re planning your day’s work? Finding new recipes to cook your favorite produce options can be a wonderful way to make fruits and vegetables more exciting and flavorful. In the spirit of National Nutrition Month, don’t forget to make an appointment for your yearly physical. Seeing your doctor regularly is important for preventative health and overall well being. Heart Health for Farmers and Agriculture
21 Thank you Sponsors for a SWEET MEETING B&S Enterprises, Inc. Carolina Farm Credit Coastal Agro Business. Inc. Crop Production Consultants First Citizens Bank J.R. Simplot Meherrin Ag & Chemical / Agro K Pratt Industries Premier Equipment Quality Equipment Rabo Agri Finance Strickland Brothers Ent. Teleos Ag Solutions Triangle Insurance & Associates, LLC First Bank & Trust of Virginia Georgia Pacific Getsco Harvey Fertilizer Hill Top Farms Marrone Bio Moody Dunbar, Inc. Nash Produce Southern Bank TriEst Ag Group
22 AgriSupply Amvac Chemical Arcola Hardwood Brock Equipment CertisBio Corteva Agriscience Durand-Wayland, Inc. Granco Minerals Helena Agri-Enterprises Manry Rawls NC Farm Bureau Benchmark Building & Irrigation Spring Acres Sales In October the NC SweetPotato Commission Foundation was awarded $166,736 to research controlling GRKN in sweetpotato packing facilities. We have partnered with Dr. Adrienne Gorny at NCSU to develop a rapid-response test to find the presence of GRKN in sweetpotatoes prior to their being packed or stored. In addition, the project will support the identification and development of best practices to be used at the packing house to reduce the inadvertent transmission of GRKN and to aid in the prevention of shipping infested product that can result in North Carolina Sweetpotato growers losing market share. And lastly, we will work with volunteer packing houses who agree to be part of a pilot project to determine both the cost effectiveness and the reduction of nematode population as a result of gassing sweetpotatoes in storage If you would like to be part of this research, contact our consultant Anne Gallagher at [email protected]. We thank all those already actively involved for your willingness to serve the industry, it is through such efforts, research and partnership that we will be able to defeat this destructive pest.
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Teleos Ag Solutions™ Exclusive, Global Distributor of TELONE™ , the World's Best Defense Against Nematodes TELONE™ II is a preplant soil fumigant for managing the major species of nematodes that negatively impact sweetpotatoes, including: root knot, lesion, ring, dagger, and sting nematodes. By applying TELONE™ before planting, you create a zone of protection around delicate developing root systems, leading to healthier plants and higher yields. A custom blend of TELONE™ and chloropicrin can also help combat soil borne diseases, for an effective all-in-one preplant solution for your sweetpotatoes. Remember, there's no coming back from a poor start! 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.
North Carolina SweetPotato Commission 700 E. Parrish Dr., Suite C Benson, NC 27504 919.894.1067 ph 919.894.7018 fax www.ncsweetpotatoes.com 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. 2022 NCSPC CALENDAR March 16 |Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM via Zoom March 31 |UMO Ag Fest April 5-7 |CPMA - Montral Canada April 6 |Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM NCSPC Office April 15 |Good Friday, NCSPC Office Closed April 27 |Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM via Zoom May 18 |Promotions Meeting 1:00 PM NCSPC Office May 21-25 |Today’s Dietitian Spring Symposium
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