Sweetpotato production in the United States

Abstract

The sweetpotato, Ipomea batatas (L.) Lam., is tropical in origin and was considered an important food plant for ancient civilizations in tropical America; however, the plant was not grown extensively by North American Indians. The sweetpotato became widely established in North America by the end of the 18th century (Edmond, 1971a). It was disseminated by explorers from Mexico and the West Indies after the discovery of America. Records indicate that the sweetpotato was grown by colonists in Virginia as early as 1648, and in Carolina and New England by 1723 and 1764, respectively.