Wayne E. Bailey’s sweet potato fingerlings a hit
Wayne E. Bailey’s sweet potato fingerlings a hit
Fingerling potatoes were a hit when they were first introduced in the white category, but now, especially with such strong emphasis on nutrition, fingerling sweet potatoes are taking center stage.
George Wooten, president of Wayne E. Bailey in Chadbourn, NC, told The Produce News that the company has been marketing and promoting sweet potato fingerlings for about a decade.
Wayne E. Bailey’s fingerling sweet potatoes.“It took some time, but now they have really caught on,” said Wooten. “We will be featuring them, along with our popular steamer sweet potatoes, at the New York Produce Show.”
The company will exhibit at booth No. 466 at the event being held on Dec. 1-3 in Manhattan.
Wooten explained that sweet potato fingerlings are easy to prepare, and they offer an alternative that is interesting and flavorful.
“Like any fruit or vegetable, the fingerlings should be rinsed,” he explained. “Then just clip off the two ends and cook them as you’d like. The skins are very tender, so they can be consumed along with the entire potato.”
At the retail level, items like sweet potato fingerlings and steamers help to enhance the quality of bulk sweet potato displays.
“Retailers do a great job at handling bulk sweet potatoes, but we’re working to educate them on how to use sweet potatoes in different ways,” said Wooten. “We continue to offer three- and five-pound bags, as well as a four-count tray, which are all doing well. And we offer our line in the ‘Green Giant’ label. Many grocers are using the ‘Green Giant’ label in their wet racks, and having it in the sweet potato category adds to the overall collection of the well-known and popular brand.”
Wayne E. Bailey has been a devotee of the New York Produce Show since its inception. Wooten said that many of the smaller retailers and chain stores who attend it may not go to other major or distributor shows. But they go to the New York event and learn about new products and ideas, and then ask their sources for them.
“This regional produce show provides one-on-one face time with our existing and prospective customers,” said Wooten. “The timing is good because it’s between holidays, yet it offers the festive New York City backdrop. The organizers do a really good job of putting the show together, and its growth from year to year has been phenomenal.”
