NORTH CAROLINA - Sweet potato prices will most likely be on the rise just as holiday promotions hit.
Mother Nature dealt the Carolinas a devastating blow earlier this week, cutting off power and running water for thousands. The recent weather challenges lead to a visit from North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory to assure farmers of the state’s support during any impending rough times related to the events.
As a result of the washout, the state’s sweet potato market could reportedly see tightening supply as it comes into one of the category’s busiest times of the year, boosting prices going into holiday promotions.
“Demand is always going to be high going into Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Joshua Wright, International and Domestic Sales for Ham Produce, tells me. While he added that so far he has not received any reports of negative impact, other sources are saying that the industry is going to see the market tighten up.
With such a hit on volumes coming into high consumer demands, a rise in prices can be expected in the coming weeks as the full impact of the storms is realized. The results of the record rains have been such that few were willing to go on record with a full evaluation of the situation.
abc12 reports that Governor McCrory met with about 100 North Carolina farmers of different categories, describing the situation as “devastating news” for growers.
Laura Kornegay Hearn, Marketing and Branding Specialist for Nash Produce, shared that the worst of the storms hit south of the company’s growing area, though the rain did set harvest back one to two weeks.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the impacts of the storm as more information comes to light, so stay tuned.
