2012-2013 Issue 3
June 2013
North Carolina’s Boots on the Ground in Europe
we were there ...
or will be
I
n 2005 the NCSPC began a modest international sweet potato promotional effort in the United Kingdom with the assistance of the NCDA&CS
– International Marketing Department. From that simple foodservice
trade show eight years ago, North Carolina sweet potatoes now represent 73% of the shipments into the UK & Western Europe.
Although NC has the majority of sweet potato sales, there is still
much to be done to raise consumer awareness from less than
2% per capita consumption in the EU’s 27-countries and continue to be the market leader as the category grows. Our chief
competitors are: Honduras, China, Egypt, Israel, South Africa and Brazil.
EU Market % in 2012
June
ne
11
12
18
29
Board Meeting 6:00 PM, NCSPC Office
Big Rock Dinner- Got to Be NC
– Morehead City, NC
FFA Career Day – Raleigh, NC
Thriller on the Griller – Ag Tour Event
- Food Lion, Carolina Beach, NC
Thriller on the Griller – Ag Tour Event
- Food Lion, Surf City, NC
United States 73% 125,398.50
30
Honduras 9% 15,846.83
August
China 6% 10,514.73
13
Egypt 4% 7,581.90
Isreal 4% 6,489.10
Board Meeting 6:00 PM, NCSPC Office
September
S. Africa 2% 3,629.00
27-28 Wide Open Blue Grass Festival
Raleigh, NC
Brazil 2% 3,149.30
October
At the end of May of this year, an outbound trade mission to
Germany, France and Switzerland was attended by Sue JohnsonLangdon NCSPC; Kelly Powell-McIver, NCDA&CS; Brenda Oglesby, NCSPC Promotion Committee Chairman; Jose Calderon, FarmPak Products; Bethany Malcolm and Diana Ramirez, Farm Fresh
Produce. Retail stores and food service outlets were visited in Freiburg,
Germany; Colmar, France; and Zurich, Switzerland.
8
12
13
19
26
C Jorg Sackmann
Chef
demonstates
d
p
preparation technique
Board Meeting 6:00 PM, NCSPC Office
Dixie Classic Fair Recipe Contest
- Winston-Salem, NC
NC-AFC Student Culinary Competition
- Winston-Salem, NC
NC State Fair, Recipe Contest,
- Raleigh, NC
Harvest Festival & Pie Eating Contest - Benson, NC
December
19
Board Meeting 6:00 PM, NCSPC Office
2012-2013
associate members
5 Girls Produce, Clinton, NC
AG World Support Systems,
Moses Lake, WA
Arcola Hardwood Company,
Warrenton, NC
Aspen Sales Group/Russet House,
Quebec, CANADA
B & B Produce, Benson, NC
BB Hobbs Company, Darlington, SC
Clinton Truck & Tractor Co. Inc.,
Clinton, NC
ConAgra / Lamb Weston,
Kennewick, WA
Crop Management Services,
Princeton, NC
Crown Cork & Seal, Skyland, NC
Farm Fresh Produce, Faison, NC
Farm Pak Products,
Spring Hope, NC
First Citizens Bank & Trust,
Benson, NC
FMC Agricultural Products,
Clayton, NC
Ham Produce,Snow Hill, NC
Harvey Fertilizer & Gas Co. / Wilson
County Farm Supply, Kinston, NC
Manry Rawls, Franklin, VA
McCain Foods USA, Inc., Lisle, IL
Moody Dunbar Inc., Dunn, NC
Nash Produce, Nashville, NC
NC Certified Seed Growers,
Bailey, NC
NC Yam Festival, Tabor City, NC
Netafim, Fresno,CA
Reliable Farm /Raincrow Farm,
Clinton, NC
SAIL, Wilson, NC
Scott Farms, Lucama, NC
Southern Produce, Faison, NC
Spring Acres Sales Co.,
Spring Hope, NC
SSI Packaging Group, Inc.,
Richmond, VA
Steele Plant Company LLC,
Gleason, TN
Strickland Bros. Enterprises Inc.,
Spring Hope, NC
Techmark, lnc., Lansing, MI
Triangle/SAI Insurance Clayton, NC
Valent, Lumberton, NC
Vick Family Farms, Wilson, NC
Wada Farms Marketing Group,
Idaho Falls, ID
Wayne E. Bailey Produce,
Chadbourn, NC
Williamson Produce, Wilson, NC
Yara, Beaufort, NC
internal necrosis
task force update
As reported in the last issue, an “Internal Necrosis Task Force” was recently
established by NCSU in with Dr. Craig Yencho heading this committee.
Below are some pictures showing internal necrosis in Covington. The numbers
below each picture represent a severity scoring system that has been
developed to assist with research on this problem.
Severe internal
have b
been ffound
S
i
l necrosis
i problems
bl
h
d iin only
l a ffew storage
facilities, but has also been observed at low levels in several others over the
last few years. Since it does not always appear at the same location, it has been
difficult to both pinpoint or predict. New viruses and pathogens do not appear
to be related to internal necrosis, but cannot be ruled out at this point.
In a collaborative effort between MS, LA and NC State Universities
conducted in 2012, there was an internal necrosis study that evaluated
several varieties as a means to screen future clones, the goal being to avoid
release of new varieties prone to problem. Researchers have discovered
the use of Prep increases internal necrosis symptoms in Covington.
The active ingredient in Prep is ethylene, a naturally occurring hormone
in plants typically associated with ripening.
Plant stress can
also result in increased production of ethylene so understanding
the relationship of ethylene and its production or metabolism
during various growing and stress events including curing and storage may
provide useful information.
NCSU researchers think that ethylene and CO2 levels or other combustion
products formed during curing or poor burning due to low O2
levels could also be associated with internal necrosis in storage. However,
a direct cause and effect relationship between specific gases and internal
necrosis has yet to be uncovered.
The survey we spoke about last month is
currently under construction and we will keep
you informed as we go forward. In the meantime,
if you have any questions or suggestions please
contact Dr. Yencho via e-mail (craig_yencho@
ncsu.edu) or phone (919) 513-7417 (O) or (919)
218-0618 (C).
Happy planting!!
notable news...
NC SWEET POTATO MARKETING REPORT
AS OF June 22, 2013
Total 40 -Pound Cartons
3,192,065
18% Food Service
61% International
21% Retail
Total Pounds in Addition to Fresh Market
67,855,592
-1% Canners
2% Baby Food
10% Chips
38% Other
49% Frozen
The FOB price ranges for this time period are: US # 1 $13.00-$15.00,
US # 2 $7.00-$9.00, Jumbos $6.00-$8.00, Petites $10.00-$12.00,
The 2012 crop season total to date (September 02, 2012 thru June 22,
2013) is: 10,334,854 (40 pound cartons fresh market sweet potatoes)
2012-2013 NCSPC Board of Directors
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Rob Hill, President, Tull Hill Farms
Brent Leggett, Vice President,Leggett Farming Partnership
George Massengill, Secretary-Treasurer, Hill Top Farms
Adam Wooten, Wayne E. Bailey Produce Co.
David Godwin, Godwin Produce Company
Jeffery Lee, Jeffery Lee Farms
Jim Jones, Jones Family Farms
Keith Smith, KS Farms
Phil Hudson, John Hudson Farms, Inc.
Robert Boyette, Rock Ridge Farms
Stacy Ham-Lane, Ham Produce
Terrell Williams, H. Williams & Sons
Thomas Joyner, Nash Produce
Sweet Potato Wedges with Parsley Salad
Lewis and Neale has done it again! They connected
the NCSPC with a group that can help us achieve our
goal of increasing fresh sweet potato use in commercial
chain restaurants! With their help the commission
co-sponsored an event at the National Restaurant
Association where top executives and nutrition advisors
were in attendance.
Our sponsorship provided a portion of a luncheon
consisting of roasted sweet potato wedges served in a
fresh salad. This dish was widely loved by attendees,
many of whom picked up the recipe. (Check out our
newest recipes on our website.) We were also included
in a vegetable stir-fry station at a reception sponsored by
the Soy Oil Council. Here attendees received information
on nutritional qualities and benefits of fresh sweet
potatoes. A number of attendees were spotted taking notes
on our nutritional note pads.
These events provided opportunity for conversations with
Wendy’s. Bob Evans and Darden (about Red Lobster).
There is also a request from Schwan Food Company about
sourcing sweet potato puree for a new pizza crust for school
food service.
Our information just keeps falling into the “right hands.”
North Carolina SweetPotato Commission
700 E. Parrish Dr., Suite C
Benson, NC 27504
Nonprofit Org
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 56
Benson, NC
What does ASPMI mean for the sweet potato growers of North Carolina?
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ANNOUNCING the
American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute
Annual non-repayment monies through USDA/FAS
Strong voice in USDA International Programs
Continuity of effective, integrated generic promotional
programs
Create a more consistent, stable domestic market
environment
Increased production without creating an oversupply within
the USA
Membership in ASPMI is voluntary and open to all within the sweet
potato industry.
Please contact: Sue Johnson-Langdon, NCSPC,
for further information on the different membership tiers and costs.
E-mail: ncsweetsue@aol.com ; 919-894-1067; FAX 919-894-7018
GET ON BOARD NOW!
The American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute (ASPMI) was formed in
February 2013 for the purpose of creating new and expanding old markets
both internationally and domestically through generic promotions.
Marketing programs not only create awareness among consumers for
sweet potatoes but also have been proven to create new marketing
opportunities that increase sales and a more stable economic environment - sort of like increasing the size of a sweet potato pie. The larger
the pie - the larger each individual slice.
ASPMI has submitted an application to the USDA/Foreign Agricultural
Service for funding ($263,000) in two of their programs – Market Access
Program (MAP) and Emerging Markets Program (EMP). Once ASPMI has
been accepted as a cooperator, program funding will be annual and can
increase exponentially as success is proven. Other commodity cooperators have experienced an 1100% increase in 10 years.
Place your Business card
HERE!
Call the Commission Office
for more detail! 919-894-1067
Associate Members receive a discount
on Advertising!
Honduras
Portug
Portugal
t all