George Washington Grew Sweet Potatoes On His Mount Vernon Farm

National Cook A Sweet Potato Day is celebrated across the United States each year on February 22nd.  The sweet potato is eaten and loved, each day, by millions of people across the nation.

Either Central America or South America is thought to be the center of origin and domestication of sweet potatoes.  It is known that in Central America, sweet potatoes were domesticated at least 5,ooo years ago.  Peruvian sweet potato remnants dating as far back as 8,000 BC have been found in South America.

The sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A, which supports good vision, the immune system and bone growth.  Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B-6, magnesium and vitamin C.  It’s also great for the complexion.

High in fiber and low in fat and calories, this root vegetable is a healthful alternative to snack foods when prepared without added butter, sugar or salt.

1. According to statistics, over 260 billion pounds of sweet potatoes are produced globally every year, making it one of the most important food crops in the world.
2. True to its name, the sweet potato is indeed sweet. The sweetness is due to the presence of an enzyme that is able to convert starch into sugar as the vegetable matures. This transformation continues after the sweet potato is harvested and even while it is being cooked.
3. Under favorable conditions (cool and dry), sweet potatoes can be stored for up to ten months without spoiling or decreasing in nutritional value. Sweet potatoes should not be refrigerated since cold temperatures will break down its starches and alter the flavor and texture.
4. Sweet potatoes come in different colors: orange, white, yellow, red and purple. The taste, texture, flavor and nutritional content differ among the varieties. Orange-colored sweet potatoes are the sweetest and contain the most beta-carotene. White sweet potatoes are starchier and more calorie-laden than the yellow ones. Purple sweet potatoes, due to their color, contain the antioxidant, anthocyanin.
5. Despite its “sweet” label, sweet potatoes can be eaten by diabetics because of their low glycemic index; meaning, eating a sweet potato does not cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels.
6. Although some may confuse sweet potatoes with yams, they are not identical. Yams are mostly grown in Africa and Asia and can vary in size from a few grams to more than 50 kilograms. In terms of texture, yams tend to be drier and contain more starch. In terms of nutrition, however, sweet potatoes are certainly healthier.
7. There are ways of preparing sweet potatoes that make them more nutritious than they already are. Boiling and steaming do not make the vegetables as sugary as roasting does. Cooking sweet potato dishes with butter or olive oil will not only make them more tasty but more nutritious as well, since this makes beta-carotene, a fat-soluble nutrient, more bio-available.
8. Sweet potatoes make great kitchen décor on your counter. No need to put sweet potatoes in your refrigerator! Madison advises you store them in a basket until ready to eat. Then you can “scrub them just before cooking and be sure to enjoy the skins.”
9. They made the A-List. Sweet Potatoes made the Clean 15, which means your potential exposure to toxins is lower than with other conventionally grown produce. (I still always try to buy organic when it’s an option.)
10. Sweet potatoes can be:
    • Baked
    • Steamed
    • Boiled
    • Microwaved
    • Fried
    • Juiced
    • Pureed
    • Eaten Raw
11. Sweet potatoes are roots, compared to regular potatoes which are tubers (underground stems).
12. Our first president, George Washington grew sweet potatoes on his farmland in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
13. George Washington Carver, a famous scientist, developed 118 products from sweet potatoes including glue for postage stamps and starch for sizing cotton fabrics.
14. North Carolina is the leading producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, producing around 40% of the national supply.  Most of the production is concentrated east of Interstate 95.
15. Sweet potatoes are the official vegetable for North Carolina.
16. Here is a list of some of the common names used for Sweet potatoes around the world:
    • China: fan shu
    • Fiji: kumala
    • India: shakar-kandi
    • Indonesia: ubi-jalar                              
    • Japan: Satsuma imo
    • Malaysia: keledek
    • Philippines: kamote
    • Sri Lanka: bath-ala
    • Thailand: man-thet
17. The sweet potato was domesticated more than 5,000 years ago.
18. Vardaman, Mississippi calls itself “The Sweet Potato Capital” and holds the National Sweet Potato Festival every November.
19. Members of Columbus’ expedition in 1492 were the first Europeans to eat sweet potatoes.
20. 80% of the world’s sweet potatoes come from China.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Mobile-Cuisine

Serving Joy

Mind Body Green

Sweet Potatoes