Good News: Purple Reigns!
by duluth, September 23, 2009 | Permalink
What happened to good news? It seems to have abandoned us. Times are tense and stressful and folks are snapping like dry twigs over even the smallest incidents. It’s hard to escape—especially here on the internet, where negativity seems to spawn in every article you read. Readers, I’m here to break that cycle. I have a story so uplifting, so sweet, so—well, tater-y—it’ll have you cheering. Or at the very least, stampeding into our store to check out the latest in tubers. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the feel-good story of the year: Stokes’ Purple Sweet Potatoes.
Our tale begins in Stokes County, a tiny, pretty bit of central North Carolina near the Virginia border. A gentleman named Mike Sizemore retired after 30 years of service to the Tarheel State and bought what every retiree wants—a tractor. (What, did you think I was going to say a condo in Florida? Keep reading.) You see, Mr. Sizemore had always wanted to be a farmer. He took his shiny new tractor and used it to plant sweet potatoes.
These bright orange spuds were a hit, even winning a prize or two at local festivals. Mr. Sizemore decided to try his luck with a new kind of sweet potato. He didn’t know how people were going to feel about it. It grew in the ground, all right, and it was packed with fiber like other sweet potatoes—but this potato was purple. It was such a bright purple you’d think it’d been colored by an overzealous kindergartener. What would this tuber taste like?
Well, Mr. Sizemore’s newest crop might be ugly but it tastes real pretty. It’s sweet, like its orange cousins, and because of the color it’s packed with healthy antioxidants. Unlike other blue or purple-hued fruits and veggies, it doesn’t lose any of its antioxidant powers when it’s cooked. And you’re going to want to cook them. A LOT. Rich and thick, the texture is similar to a russet potato. For your first attempt you might want to try them simply baked and touched with butter as a pardner to your ribeye this weekend. They’re friendly with fish, chicken and any other meat you can think of, too.
Nowadays Stokes County is the purple sweet potato kingdom. The farmers that used to grow tobacco—farmers that, before this tuber appeared, were struggling not to lose their farms—are now growing these potatoes. The same equipment that farmed tobacco can be used to grow sweet potatoes so they didn’t suffer any extra expense. All of the processing happens in North Carolina, from the building of the bins used for harvest to the processing plant that makes the creamy, delectable purple sweet potato butter. A simple purple tuber is doing its part to save North Carolina farms for North Carolina families.
This Saturday at Whole Foods Market Johns Creek we’re going to be doing demos featuring recipes with purple sweet potatoes. You’ll learn all the basics of storing and sautéing, plus we’ll hand out recipes for you to take home. Some of the friendly folks from Stokes will be here to talk about their product. Our Captain’s Counter will feature purple sweet potato fries on its menu, and the Trattoria will serve up a purple sweet potato salad. In other words, purple will reign!
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4 Responses to “Good News: Purple Reigns!”
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September 23rd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Long Live Purple Sweets! One of the best finds of the year!
September 24th, 2009 at 6:02 am
I love to split, butter, wrap in foil, and throw em on the grill before searing thick lamb chops! add roasted garlic bulbs, a vino with backbone and you and yours are ready to experience an elated epicurean evening!
see you saturday!
September 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
These are awesome! Having lived as a child where they make maple syrup, the purple sweet potato is a great way to delve into my warmest childhood memories without going overboard with empty calories, Just bake them up and top with a dab of butter and drizzle of syrup and the kids will love them. This easy snack really helps curb those late night sweet tooth cravings too. They make for such a healthy autumn dessert with such a wide array of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants I just had to share!
September 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I can’t wait to see and taste all the wonderful ways you’ll be cooking up these special ‘taters!!!