Season: June to March

Description: Surprisingly, the sweet potato is not related to the potato, but rather a member of the morning glory family. Native to Central and South America and around for at least 5,000 years, there are hundreds of different types of sweet potatoes, with varying colors and thickness of flesh and skin. In the United States, the sweet potato industry thrives in the Mississippi, contributing around $19 million dollars to the state’s economy.

Sweet potatoes are rich with complex carbohydrates and beta carotene. Only buy as many sweet potatoes as you need, as their shelf life (at room temperature) is about 3-5 days.

Did you know? The sweet potato is believed to have been grown by the Aztecs.