Nash Produce has a laser focus on sweet potatoes

Nash Produce is exclusively focused on sweet potatoes, says Thomas Joyner, president of the Nashville, N.C.-based marketer.

“This will be the first time in over 50 years that Nash Produce has not graded/packed and sold pickling cucumbers,”  Joyner said, noting that the profitability in grading the cucumbers was not sufficient to continue the program. “We are now focused solely on our sweet potato program and expect to continue to grow and invest in our facilities and operations.”

For example, Joyner said the company has added 800,000 bushels of controlled atmosphere storage in the last three years, culminating with an additional 400,000-bushel facility available in June of this year. Joyner said the company’s total storage for controlled atmosphere storage now exceeds 4 million bushels.

Supply outlook

Nash Produce will have ample 2021 sweet potato storage throughout the spring and summer, Joyner said. “Experience has taught us that maintaining our sweet potato inventory at a constant humidity and temperature throughout the year ensures that the last portion of the crop is just as good as the new crop that we will receive in the fall,” he said. Joyner said the company’s investment in controlled atmosphere storage facilities allows Nash Produce to provide quality sweet potatoes for our customers year-round. The marketer will transition to the new sweet potato crop in mid-October this year, Joyner said.

Marketing advantages

Nash Produce aims to provide retail and food service buyers with the highest quality sweet potato throughout the year, Joyner said, and the company’s investment in sophisticated facilities allows for pinpoint control of temperature and humidity. 

“ This ensures customers that they will receive the best product in the industry all year long,” Joyner said. “Our facilities are the biggest in the industry and help us produce the amount of volume that customers need for the entire year."

Another way that Nash Produce creates value for retail and foodservice buyers,  he said, is through multiple varieties and packaging options. 

“We offer three different varieties of sweet potatoes: covington, bonita, and murasaki,” he said. “Additionally, we also offer the Covington variety as an organic option.”

Customers can pick from multiple packing options that range from steamers and microwaveable to bagging options and bulk, he said. 

“We have improved our availability of value-added products which now includes a tray pack of four sweet potatoes,” he said. “Hopefully, this packaging option will allow customers to enjoy the right amount of sweet potatoes for their summer cookout!”

Challenges and opportunities

The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with current uncertainties about input and fuel costs, present challenges to all of the industry, he said.

“We try to be very transparent with our customers/partners, as we want to give our most competitive pricing,” he said. “In return, we hope this communication and transparency will help cultivate our relationships with partners and ultimately benefit both. “

Whatever is ahead, Joyner said Nash Produce is looking to innovate.

“Whether that be different packaging options or looking for ways to improve our storage facilities, we believe that continuous innovation is the key to providing the highest quality sweet potato,” he said. That mindset, combined with a focus on customer relationships, will translate to continued success for the company, Joyner said.