Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Potatoes play a major role in our state’s agriculture industry, as well as the lives of consumers. Whether on restaurant tables or inside a potato chip bag, North Carolina potatoes are a common ingredient in the American diet. For nearly 100 years, the NC Potato Association has supported potato farmers in our state and helped market their products to buyers and consumers.
In 1928, a group of potato growers met to discuss ways they could further the potato market nationally. From then until now, the NC Potato Association has not only expanded the potato market across the country, but internationally as well! “Quickly approaching the 100-year mark, the NC Potato Association is the oldest commodity association in the state,” said Executive Director of the Association, Matthew (Matt) Luks-Jurutka. “From that first meeting to today, our mission has always been to promote and supply N.C. potatoes throughout the United States and beyond.” Today, the association is made up of 16 growers in the Northeastern part of our state who work together to maintain high-quality growing standards, marketing practices and more. “The association started with this idea of working together,” Matt said. “For our members, that’s a huge benefit because it creates a standard for not only high-quality and consistency, but for partnership and group benefit as a whole. What we have accomplished cannot be done by one individual grower, but can only come from a strong, unified group of growers; carrying forth the work that was left from those before us.” The NC Potato Association supports farmers who grow white potatoes, yellow flesh potatoes, red potatoes and other chipping varieties.
All members of the North Carolina Potato Association are located in the northeastern part of the state near the coast. While potatoes are grown in other parts of the state, many growers are located near the coast due to the high-quality soil. “In the original Articles of Incorporation, there was a set area defined that a grower had to be located in to participate as a member of the NC Potato Association. We recognize there are potato growers in other parts of the state and see the value of expanding our membership and are discussing ways we can possibly involve more growers for increased participation,” Matt said. Most potato growers begin planting each year around late February or early March, and harvest from June through early August. “One of the best things about growing potatoes in our state is that they fill a gap for potato programs throughout the U.S. and Canada,” Matt said. “Potatoes are harvested at a different time of year in other states, and even other countries. So, when those markets are running low on fresh product, North Carolina growers are harvesting fresh potatoes that’s available for use. It’s a win-win!” For this reason, almost every chip bag that you open around July 4th contains potatoes grown in our state.
As potato farmers work hard each year, the NC Potato Association supports them through national representation, brand marketing, research, legislation and trade show representation. “As members of the association, our potato farmers can focus on what they do best – farm,” Matt said. “By providing a united voice nationally at conferences, in legislative circles, and at trade shows throughout the U.S. and Canada, we help spread the word on the exceptional potato market our N.C. farmers provide and advocate for promoting new market opportunities and networking with potential buyers.” The association has a longstanding partnership with the Potato Breeding Program at NC State University. The research focuses primarily on the development of new potato trials. Recently, the association has also partnered with industry stakeholders, such as Yara International and Tidewater Ag to study pest management strategies. “This research is vital to farmers because it not only helps them grow the best potatoes in a sustainable and efficient way, but it provides the group real time, actionable research results that can improve our potato yields.” Matt said. This year, the association joined the Potato Sustainability Alliance, which involves their Crop Wise Program, which is a system that provides growers with ways to be more sustainable on their farm. “The program uses farm data to show what has been done in the past as a baseline and then provides ways each farmer can build off that foundation to become more sustainable in the future,” Matt said. The program also allows each farmer to see what’s being done on potato farmers across the country and provides ways to implement those practices here in North Carolina. “It’s a really cool program that not only helps our growers maximize production but also connects them with other potato farmers around the country,” Matt said. “We just joined the program this May, so I am excited to see the benefits it will provide in the months and years to come. Our goal is to remain relevant to a changing market and doing actionable measures to demonstrate that NC potato growers follow sustainability efforts that are above national standards, helps keep our product front and center.” In addition to supporting the potato farmers in our state, the NC Potato Association also strives to educate the public about locally grown potatoes in many ways.
To celebrate the NC potato industry, the NC Potato Association started the NC Potato Festival in 1940, which was held in Elizabeth City. It took a break in 1970 and was picked back up again in the late 90’s by Elizabeth City Downtown. It has historically been a great way for the public to learn about potatoes grown in our state, meet the farmers, and more. Matt attends various farmers market events each year to meet consumers and help them learn about our state’s potato industry. “Many people don’t know that potatoes are even grown in North Carolina, so the education part of what we do is always fun and exciting,” Matt said. “From printed materials and digital advertising to in-person events, the NC Potato Association strives to spread the word about locally grown potatoes, and the hard work of potato farmers in our state, through everything that we do.” If you find yourself near a welcome or visitor center in North Carolina, be sure to stop in and look for information on the NC Potato Association. Further resources, materials and information can also be found on their social media channels and website.
According to Matt, locally grown potatoes truly round out the uniqueness of North Carolina agriculture. “Speaking horticulturally, being native to South America, potatoes aren’t supposed to grow in this part of the country, but farmers have worked hard to ensure that the plant become a crop adapted to our climate,” he said. “Today, about 75% of our state’s potato harvest is used for potato chips and the other 25% is used for table stock/fresh market, both of which are found in U.S. and Canadian markets. In fact, nearly 20 million potatoes were shipped to Canada this year alone!” So, North Carolina potato farmers are not just vital in ensuring citizens of our state have access to fresh potatoes, but also potato consumers across the country. We are so proud of all the potato farmers in our state, as well as the members of the NC Potato Association, for their dedication and hard work furthering our state’s potato industry each year. Make sure you follow the association’s social media channels to learn more about potato farmers in our state and stay up to date on what’s happening with N.C. potatoes!
