1-800-688-9267 • 910-267-0011 (International) 111 West Center Street North, Faison, North Carolina 28341

Sustainability: Forward Thinking

Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We take great pride and care to protect our environment and its resources as we pursue our passion of providing consumers with the world's best sweet potatoes. We are continuously making strides to reduce our ecological footprint and increase our environmental sustainability. 

Soil
  • We employ precise farming techniques to ensure that only the necessary chemicals are used on conventional product
  • Our growers utilize Intergrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to reduce pest damage and decrease our reliance on pesticides
  • To enhance soil quality and increase plant productivity, we practice a 3-4 year crop rotation schedule  
Energy
  • Our logistics team works diligently to maximize each shipment to reduce travel time, save diesel, and decrease emissions
  • Our forklifts use lithium batteries, which reduces CO2 emissions and are more energy efficient 
  • LED lights are used in all facilities, which consume 90% less energy than incandescent lights 
  • We use computer-controlled, regulated cooling systems in our warehouse to guarantee energy efficiency and reduce power usage
  • All of our sweet potatoes are hand-harvested, rather than mechanically-harvested, which reduces fuel usage and lowers air pollution
Water 
  • Water used for irrigation and for product sanitation is carefully monitored to eliminate excess usage
  • Drip irrigation is used in Southern Produce's plant beds, which drastically reduces water loss due to evaporation or run-off
Waste
  • The cardboard boxes that package our sweet potatoes contain a percentage of recycled materials 
  • Cull sweet potatoes are offered to local sportsmen for deer hunting purposes rather than being discarded 
  • We reduce food waste by donating excess product to local food banks and charities 
  • We actively recycle materials in our offices through the use of recycle bins 
Organic Production
  • Launched in 2015, our organic sweet potato program is USDA certified with product available year-round