Sweet Potato Harvest in Final Weeks

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — Last week’s heavy rains slowed the region’s sweet potato harvest in Calhoun, Chickasaw and surrounding counties but things are back in full swing this week.

More than 70 percent of this year’s 22,500-acre crop has been harvested and experts called yields “about average.”

August rains hurt some crops but others flourished. Across Vardaman, things are bustling as crates are stacking up filled with potatoes at area farms and processors.

The Sweet Potato Council’s marketing efforts are paying off in more customers for the crop, including trucks carrying loads destined for growing markets in Massachusetts and Maine.

That’s led to two new processors opening in the area with two more on the drawing board.