Mississippi Market Bulletin
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MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN Volume 99 Number 20 Lester Spell, Jr., D.V.M., Commissioner Jackson, Mississippi October 15, 2010 Early Sweet Potato Harvest In Mississippi Looks Good By Bonnie Coblentz ber of years.” resumed with the first cool night. MSU Ag Communications The state has 19,200 acres of “When you feel those first cool sweet potatoes this year, down nights, you know the sweet pota- 2010 is shaping up to be a sweet 500 acres from last year, and 90 toes are putting their food reserves year for Mississippi sweet potato percent of these acres are within into the roots,” Graves said. growers, a total change from the As of mid-September, rains were rains that destroyed 75 percent of 40 miles of Vardaman. A few fields holding off as the crop was being last year’s crop at harvest. are in Humphreys and Tate Coun- harvested. By September 17, about Benny Graves, sweet potato ties. Mississippi sweet potatoes are 50 percent of the crop was out of specialist with the Mississippi prized nationally for their sweet- the ground. Department of Agriculture and ness and color. “We started harvesting about Commerce’s Bureau of Plant Despite the hot, dry weather three weeks early, and we’re pro- Industry, summed the year up by across most of the state, weather gressing at a rapid pace under saying the Vardaman sweet pota- conditions have been excellent for toes are back. ideal conditions,” Graves said. sweet potatoes. Timely, localized “We have extremely high qual- “The season allowed us to plant rains provided all the moisture the ity potatoes coming out of the potatoes early, as we had warm ground. They’ve been grown and crop needed this year. The extreme weather and timely rains. Now harvested under ideal conditions,” heat of late July and August slowed producers are getting the potatoes Benny Graves, Executive Secretary of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Coun- Graves said. “Yields are a bit above the potatoes’ growth. Graves said out of the ground as soon as they cil, recognized Commissioner Lester Spell’s long-time support of the average in a lot of cases, and I though potatoes did not grow can.” Mississippi Sweet Potato Industry by presenting him with an original haven’t seen this quality in a num- much during the heat, growth Yields are averaging about 275- Vardaman Sweet Potato Poster. The original art was the work of artist Deanie Graves. 300 bushels per acre, up from the dine said. “We have already moved state’s average of 250-275 bushels about 10 percent of this year’s an acre. In mid-September, sweet crop. Typically we hold new pota- potatoes were bringing good pric- toes two to three months before es at $19.50 per 40-pound carton. we sell them.” “Prices should remain strong For years, Mississippi produc- because movement has been ers have grown Beauregard sweet good,” Graves said. “I think per potatoes. Graves said a new variety capita consumption is up, and pro- available is Evangeline. cessing potatoes are moving well. “This is an orange-flesh variety We feel confident we will be able like Beauregard that has great to move this crop well due to high sugar content, especially early in quality and good taste.” the year when it’s first harvested,” ConAgra is building a new Graves said. “We think it will be a french fry plant in Louisiana that good fit for our growers, and they will solely produce sweet potato will wind up growing both variet- fries. Graves said this plant will ies.” demand a large quantity of sweet The 37th annual Sweet Potato potatoes, which will be very good Festival will be held November 6 in for the industry. Vardaman, Mississippi. A new post- Bill Burdine, Mississippi State er has been designed to promote University Extension Service sweet Vardaman sweet potatoes, and it potato specialist, said Mississippi will be displayed at the festival in growers were able to capture some Calhoun County. market premiums because of the For a personal copy of the Var- early harvest. daman Sweet Potato Poster, mail Weather was just about perfect this summer for sweet potatoes, and Mis- “The 2009 crop was basically ex- a check or money order in the sissippi producers are quickly getting a good crop out of the ground. Evan- hausted by the time harvest began, amount of $15.00 to Mississippi geline is a new variety that has the potential to become quite popular with so buyers were actively pursuing Sweet Potato Council, P. O. Box area growers. (Photos by Scott Corey) new crop sweet potatoes,” Bur- 5207, Mississippi State, MS 39762. October 15, 2010 MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN Page 1 From Our Kitchen To Yours! ******************** Mississippi Sweet Potatoes… Healthy Eating with Great Taste! CREAMY SWEET POTATO SOUP SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 2 medium Mississippi sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1” cubes 2 beaten eggs 1 large onion (or leek), chopped 1/2 cup granulated sugar Lester Spell, Jr., D.V.M. 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup butter, melted & cooled slightly Commissioner 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon vanilla Salt to taste 4 cups mashed, cooked sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds) Market Development 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 cup raisins 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 cup packed brown sugar Division 2 cups canned fat-free chicken broth 1/4 cup all-purpose flour Mississippi Department of 1 cup low-fat buttermilk 2 tablespoons cold butter 1 cup skim milk 1/2 cup chopped pecans Agriculture & Commerce 1 tablespoon lime juice P.O. Box 1609 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional) In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, granulated sugar, melted butter, Jackson, MS 39215-1609 1/2 cup cooked & chopped ham (optional) and vanilla. Stir in the cooked sweet potatoes and raisins. Spread the mixture evenly in an ungreased 2-quart square baking dish. For top- www.mdac.state.ms.us In a large pot, combine potatoes, onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, thyme, cay- ping, in small bowl, combine brown sugar and flour. Cut in butter until enne, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over sweet MISSISSIPPI for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Pour mixture into food proces- potato mixture. Bake in a 350º oven for about 20 minutes or until heated sor and blend until smooth. Return to pot. Add buttermilk, skim milk, and through. MARKET BULLETIN lime juice and cooked and cubed ham (if desired). Cook over low heat until P. O. Box 1118 heated through; do not boil. Sprinkle cilantro on each serving (if desired). CRANBERRY-SWEET POTATO BREAD Jackson, MS 39215-1118 SWEET POTATO CUSTARD PIE 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Phone: 601-359-1155 1 2/3 cups sugar Fax: 601-359-1260 1 1/4 cups cooked sweet potatoes 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 stick margarine 1 teaspoon baking powder Email: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice [email protected] 1 can sweetened condensed milk 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 eggs 2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 1 ½ pounds) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce Website: 2 unbaked pie crusts 4 eggs, slightly beaten www.msmarketbulletin.org 2/3 cup cooking oil Mix together potatoes, sugar, and margarine. Add sweetened condensed 1 cup chopped pecans Claude Nash milk, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. Pour mixture evenly into pie crusts. Bake Editor in 350º oven for one hour. Orange glaze: in a small bowl, stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and 1 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed. [email protected] GRILLED SWEET POTATOES Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of two 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans Denise Brewer or four 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In an extra large bowl, 2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled & cut into wedges combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and Karen Rogers 3 tablespoons soy sauce salt; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, Jennifer Weaver 2 tablespoons honey eggs, and cooking oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture; stir 2 tablespoons water April Wilson just until moistened. Fold in pecans and spoon mixture into prepared pans. 1 clove garlic, minced Bake bread in a 350º oven about 1 hour for the 9 x 5-inch loaf pans or 40 Market Bulletin Staff 1 tablespoon sesame, olive, or canola oil to 45 minutes for the other pans, or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from Wrap sweet potatoes in plastic wrap. Arrange in microwave oven and cook Andy Prosser pans; cool completely on wire racks. Wrap in plastic wrap; store overnight on high for 2 to 3 minutes until soft. Combine soy sauce, honey, water, and before slicing. Just before serving, drizzle tops and sides with glaze. Bureau Director garlic. Add sweet potatoes and toss gently. Drain, saving sauce. Arrange [email protected] in a single layer in a grill basket coated with cooking spray. Brush wedges Recipes courtesy of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council. with sesame oil. Cook covered with grill lid for 15 minutes, basting with reserved soy sauce mixture. Donna West Division Director SWEET POTATO BISCUITS [email protected] 2 cups self-rising flour 1/4 cup sugar Michael Lasseter 3 tablespoons shortening Agricultural 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 1 large potato) Projects Manager 1/3 cup milk or half-and-half [email protected] Combine flour and sugar in a medium bowl; cut in shortening and butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.