As the holidays approach, sweetpotatoes are finding their way onto tables across America — but nowhere are they more rooted than in North Carolina. For more than half a century, the state has led the nation in sweetpotato production, shaping both its economy and its culture. In this episode, host Layna Hong travels through eastern North Carolina’s fields to uncover why this region is so perfectly suited for the crop, how NC State researchers made it available year-round, and the deep traditions that have grown up around it. Featuring agronomist John Leach, NC Sweetpotato Commission executive director Michelle Grainger, and farmer Kamal Bell of Sankofa Farms.
Music: “Down Where the Sweet Potatoes Grow,” Library of Congress Archives.
Host / Producer: Layna Hong
