Sweet Potatoes Making a Comeback at the Dinner Table

As the above chart shows, sweet potatoes at one time had a small niche in the American dining repertoire. But after WWII for, some reason they fell out of favor. It could be because we started eating so much cheese:

and chicken...

But there are indications that the sweet potato is making a comeback, especially in Europe:

With U.S. consumption growing slowly, farmers have found a market for the vitamin-packed, cholesterol-free sweet potato on the tables of health-conscious Europeans. Between 2005 and 2009, the value of U.S. sweet potato exports more than doubled to $51.4 million, with much of that growth coming from Europe, especially Great Britain.

I tried to grow sweet potatoes in the garden a couple of years ago without much success. I'll have to give it another go next summer. In case you're wanting to grow your own, you have to order them as small dry root plants that you then plant in the ground. It's different from other varieties of potatoes. Irish Eyes is a good place to order the starts online.

Comments

[Adele]

So is Browns of Omaha. They mostly sell onions but they also sell sweet potatoes. I also have saved sweets from one year and put them in damp sand about half way. Got beautiful plants and good crop that year, next though the ground hogs got. Then the dogs got the ground hog, but not till the damage was done. Beautiful plants on top, but nothing underneath. Sigh. Hoping they grow out there in your area since my hubby loves them so. I will try this coming year since I will be out there for a garden this year.
Adele

[Jennifer Kleffner]

Wonder if it has to do with refrigeration? Sweet potatoes don't need it. Cheese and chicken do. We really got refrigeration down after WW II. And more people lived in the southern US then, where they grow well. You need to be way south to grow sweet potatoes. They like heat and a long growing season. I wouldn't eat them as a kid because the only way they were served was out of a can with marshmallows. Now I love them baked or as oven fries. Yum.

[craig]

There are varieties that can be grown up here in the cold north. One of our farmers from Kettle Falls sold some beauties at the farmers' market this summer. Irish Eyes specializes in varieties for northern climates.