Sweetpotato Production Value
Learn more about the economics of sweetpotato production below, including the impacts of maintenance costs and further the total value of sweetpotato crops in each state associated with the SweetARMOR project.
There are various economic factors that impact sweetpotato production in addition to the total value of the harvested sweetpotato crop, such as maintenance costs. Maintenance costs include those for equipment, equipment maintance, planting material, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and much more. To learn more about the realistic maintenance costs that are associated with sweetpotato production, click here to view NCSU’s enterprise budgets for organic sweetpotato production and commercial sweetpotato production.
The below information has been adapted from the 2021 Sweet Potato Statistical Yearbook provided by The United States Sweet Potato Council and USDA/NASS Quick Stats.
North Carolina
North Carolina is the number one producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States. Within North Carolina, Sampson, Nash, and Johnston counties are the highest sweetpotato producers (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
According to the USDA, North Carolina growers harvested 104,700 acres of sweetpotatoes valued at approximately 391,950,000 dollars in the year 2021 (USDA/NASS, 2021).
Of the 375 million dollars generated in 2020, approximately half of this value, 150 million, is derived from the export of North Carolina sweetpotatoes internationally to countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
Click here to see North Carolina’s most up-to-date USDA/NASS State Agricultural Overview.
Louisiana
Estimates for Louisiana sweetpotato production and production value were discontinued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) in 2019. Discontinuance of estimates often coincides with a reduction in growers, packers, and shippers. This practice aids in retaining a level of confidentiality for production value for these individuals and their businesses.
Louisiana is the number four producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States. Within Louisiana, West Carroll, Avoyelles, and Morehouse parishes are the highest sweetpotato producers (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
In 2018, Louisiana sweetpotatoes accounted for 5.7% of the United State’s supply of sweetpotatoes. According to the USDA, Louisiana growers harvested 8,300 acres of sweetpotatoes valued at approximately 44 million dollars in 2018 (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
In addition to the revenue generated from the domestic sale of sweetpotatoes, in 2020 Louisiana exported approximately 939,000 dollars’ worth of sweetpotatoes internationally to Canada (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
Click here to see Louisiana’s most up-to-date USDA/NASS State Agricultural Overview.
Mississippi
Mississippi is the number two producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States. In Mississippi, Calhoun, Chickasaw, and Webster counties are the highest sweetpotato producers (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
According to the USDA, Mississippi growers harvested 29,500 acres of sweetpotatoes valued at 103,545,000 dollars in 2021 (USDA/NASS, 2021).
In 2020, of the 121 million dollars generated, approximately 8 million is derived from the export of Mississippi sweetpotatoes internationally to Canada (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
Click here to see Mississippi’s most up-to-date USDA/NASS State Agricultural Overview.
California
California is the number three producer of sweetpotatoes in the United States. Merced, Stanislaus, and Kern counties are the highest sweetpotato producers in California (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
According to the USDA, California growers harvested 18,500 acres of sweetpotatoes valued at 184,925,000 dollars in 2021 (USDA/NASS, 2021).
In 2020, of the 229 million dollars generated, 16 million dollars derived from the export of California sweetpotatoes internationally to countries such as Canada and Mexico (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
Click here to see California’s most up-to-date USDA/NASS State Agricultural Overview.
Fun Fact: Merced County accounts for approximately 90% of the commercial acreage planted for sweetpotatoes in California!
South Carolina
Estimates for South Carolina sweetpotato production and production value were discontinued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA) in 2009. Discontinuance of estimates often coincides with a reduction in growers, packers, and shippers. This practice aids in retaining a level of confidentiality for production value for these individuals and their businesses.
In 2008, South Carolina sweetpotatoes accounted for 0.5% of the United State’s supply of sweetpotatoes. According to the USDA, South Carolina growers harvested 500 acres of sweetpotatoes valued at approximately 990,000 dollars in 2008 (The United States Sweet Potato Council, 2021).
Click here to see South Carolina’s most up-to-date USDA/NASS State Agricultural Overview.