According to the latest estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service, California sweet potato production for this season is estimated at 6.17 million cwt, which is an increase of six percent over last year's production of 5.82 million cwt. National production, on the other hand, is expected to be lower than it was last season. This year's production for the U.S. is expected to be 26.48 million cwt, which is two percent less than last year's production of 26.96 million cwt.
This season's expected lower production is due to diminished crops in the other three top-producing states. North Carolina, the leading state when it comes to sweet potato production, is expected to grow 400,000 cwt less than last year's total of 12.80 million cwt. Louisiana and Mississippi, which round out the top four sweet potato states, are also expected to have slightly lower crops this season.
