There are some lower yields on sweet potato crops emerging from North Carolina. "It is half a yield on what we have this year and it's what I've also heard from most people," says Cliff Pilson of CV Pilson Farm. "The yields are really low this year."
There are a few reasons for the low yields starting with heat in the late summer to early fall. What likely was more impactful though were the significant rains. Pilson estimates that his region in Cameron, NC received 16 inches of rain from mid-July to mid-August. "The rain was really the problem because the potatoes can't really grow after that," he says. Following that, there were also fewer sunny days and fewer warmer temperatures leaving the potatoes smaller in size.
Early end on supply
As for harvest, it finished up in the first week of November. "We did start later because we were trying to get them to size up," says Pilson, who says CV Pilson is likely to have an early end to the season as well. "We'll be pretty much done by January and usually we have potatoes through May and into June."
Meanwhile, demand is normal and the pricing looks similar to last year. "They're not ideal–it's a hit when you have half a crop at the same price," says Pilson. He says there is some talk in the industry that pricing may slowly strengthen.
For more information:
Cliff Pilson
CV Pilson Farm
Tel: +1 (910) 245-4285
https://cvpilsonfarm.com/