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The Tar Heel State is known for its sweet potatoes, watermelon, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, and sweet corn. Sibling South Carolina’s major commodities include various melons, squash, cucumbers, beans, and peaches. During the 2016 harvest, South Carolina peach growers were feeling extremely optimistic. “Everything is right on target,” enthused Mike A. Baker, general manager of Mike’s Produce, a supplier at the State Farmers Market. “My growers are saying it’s supposed to be one of the best peach crops in years.”
Then there’s North Carolina’s sweet potato advantage. Since 1971, the state has ranked as the U.S.’s number-one producer. The state’s warm, moist climate and rich, fertile soil are ideal for cultivating the sugary spuds, and growers produce nearly half of the nation’s annual supply.
“Our main product grown and sold is sweet potatoes,” says Steven Ceccarelli of Farm Fresh Produce, Inc. in Faison, NC. “We also seasonally grow and sell cabbage, squash, and bell peppers during the spring and summer. Per our customers’ request, we’ve been increasing our specialty crops such as Napa and flat cabbage over the years,” though he says weather permits only a “small window of opportunity” for these items.
Another benefit is the ongoing population boom in some areas of the Carolinas. “We’re located in upstate South Carolina, and we’ve had unprecedented growth in our area over the last 20 years,” points out Taylor. “Because of this, we’ve been immune to some of the economic issues that have adversely affected other areas.”
Ford reflects this sentiment, saying Raleigh is also relatively recession-resistant. “As my dad likes to say, Raleigh is a great playground,” he remarks. “Our food scene is incredible. It keeps garnering more and more recognition, and is a great place to set up restaurants.”
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