We have been big proponents of shopping and eating local. We try and make conscious efforts to get to know the source and production of our food as much as we can. Being vegetarians, we consume a lot of fresh and seasonal produce on a daily basis. So, when we were invited to attend a dinner honoring a group of local NC farmers, we didn’t think twice and used this opportunity to get to know more about them and their story.
The event was organized by NC Sweet Potato Commission (NCSPC), a local non-profit organization that promotes and helps the local farmers grow their businesses beyond North Carolina.
Did you know that North Carolina ranks #1 in sweet potato production in the whole of the United States? One of the farmers at the event explained how the combination of warm weather and ample rains helps NC flourish in sweet potato production.
The dinner was organized at the NC Fairgrounds and the set-up was truly farm-to-table. With sweet potatoes being the star of the show, atleast 4-5 dishes highlighted them in completely different ways! The event also saw a number of farmers share stories about their agricultural practices and their vision for expanding their businesses, and promoting the NC sweet potato brand beyond borders.
We started the evening with some wine, small bites, and live music. We were also accompanied by some wonderful summer showers.
The event was catered by Old North State catering and as mentioned before, several of the dishes had an element of NC sweet potatoes incorporated into it. We thoroughly enjoyed everything ranging from mashed sweet potatoes to the sweet potato muffins and donuts.
We love supporting local farmers and it was an honor to be a part of this wonderful evening. If you are someone who loves to see your local community thrive, look for ways to support your local farmers and businesses in your area. If you would like to help contribute to research and development of NC Sweet Potatoes, you can do so by making a donation to the Henry M. Covington Endowment fund.
To see more photos from the event, enjoy the slideshow! If you would like to use any of these photos, we request that you please credit @thatvegetariancouple.
