CHAPTER XII 



COMMERCIAL DISPOSAL OF THE SWEET 

 POTATO 



The sweet potato is now going through the process of 

 standardization and introduction into the world mar- 

 kets. This fact will be appreciated when it is noted 

 that out of the eighteen states growing sweet potatoes, 

 those which produce less than one-tenth of the total 

 crop of the United States make more than one-half 

 the total car-lot shipments. Nevertheless, marketing 

 has made remarkable strides within the last few years. 

 It is only in recent years that the general sweet potato 

 grower has taken any interest in the selling of his 

 surplus beyond the limits of his immediate markets. 

 These markets have usually consisted in the many small 

 towns where the potatoes were occasionally peddled out 

 on the streets or in a few local sales in small quantities 

 to neighbors less abundantly supplied. 



Conditions have changed very rapidly within recent 

 years and sweet potatoes are now known and called for 

 in many markets which until lately have been in ignor- 

 ance of this southern delicacy. All regular market re- 

 ports now quote sweet potatoes in season, along with 

 other leading fruits and vegetables. The standardiza- 

 tion of market conditions and the fact that new mar- 

 kets are continually being opened up and old markets 

 are capable of development by controlling seasonal dis- 



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