Development of Sweet Potato Technologies for the Food Processing Industry: Removing Impediments to Create Value-Added Processing

Organization:

North Carolina State University

Amount:

$197,856.77

Program Area:

Open Grants Program

County of Applicant:

Wake

Year:

2007

Description:

Several food processors have indicated interest in using North Carolina sweet potatoes for value added products such as sweet potato fries. That development, in turn, may lead to the location of sweet potato processing facilities in North Carolina. The purpose of this Golden LEAF grant is to provide research responsive to industry needs to develop sweet potato varieties with less product darkening that can be processed over the entire calendar year; to optimize storage conditions for processing needs, and to provide processing help to manage the unique cutting and aging characteristics of sweet potatoes. The grant will also support cultural efforts to provide improved efficiencies, including dedicated planting for processing, mechanical planting and harvesting methods to reduce production costs, improved pest management methods, etc.

Contact:

Ms. Karen A. Roddy2601 Wolf Village WayAdmin Services III, Suite 240Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7514(252) 985-9868

Areas Served:

Region

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