Wada opens North Carolina office for sweet potato program

Sweet potatoes have turned into a sweet deal for Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC, which just opened a new sales office in Raleigh, North Carolina, to handle sweet potato volumes that have tripled in the past six years.

To further boost its program, Wada signed a marketing agreement with Kornegay Family Farms, Princeton, N.C., the Idaho Falls, Idaho-based produce company announced in a news release. Wada is the exclusive marketer of Dole fresh potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes and recently expanded its line with convenience items including individually wrapped microwaveable sweet potatoes.

Shane Watt, Wada vice president of sourcing and grower relations, said in the release the company has gone from selling a few bulk cartons to having a full line of sweet potato products.

“With the new office (in Raleigh) we are prepared to take an even bigger role in the sweet potato market and have plans for new items within the growing sweet potato category,” Watt said in the release.