BENSON, NC - Here at AndNowUKnow, words are kind of our thing. After all, it is the vehicle through which we are able to bring you the inspiring and innovative stories of industry greats across the world of fresh produce. The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission (NCSPC) also recognizes the power of language and has championed the one-word spelling of sweetpotato in an exclusive video release.

As demonstrated by the video the commission created, many groups including NCSPC continue to urge other groups, associations, dictionary publishers, and editors to also adopt the one-word spelling for sweetpotato—and for many reasons.

To view the creative video release, click here.

In 1989, the National Sweetpotato Collaborators officially adopted the one-word spelling, as a key way to differentiate the sweetpotato from the potato.

Scientifically speaking, the “sweet” tacked onto the beginning of the word does not serve as an adjective or modifier for the word “potato,” but rather a key differentiator between the two categories, according to the commission. The scientific name Ipomoea batatas means sweetpotato, while Solanum tuberosum refers to russet, red, white, and yellow potatoes. Dioscorea is the scientific name for yams, which, as the organization emphasizes, are also not the same as sweetpotatoes.

The commission also shared that unifying the language and spelling around this category may have a significant impact on avoiding consumer confusion and ensuring correct handling, as a sweetpotato can not be handled the same as regular Irish potatoes.

While we here at ANUK know defenders of both the sweet potato and the sweetpotato, there’s one thing that we can all surely agree about, and that is the power of words.

North Carolina SweetPotato Commission