Stokes Purple® Sweet Potato
Estimated Inventory, 40 lbs : 0.83
This item was last sold on : 06/30/25
Description/Taste
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are medium to large in size and are long, cylindrical, and oblong with a somewhat uniform shape. The skin is semi-smooth and brown with many medium-set eyes scattered across the surface. The flesh is vibrant purple with white and violet striations and is firm with a low moisture content that allows for a drier consistency than most sweet potato varieties. When cooked, Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes offer a dense texture with a well-balanced sweetness as they are less sweet than their orange counterparts.
Seasons/Availability
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are available in the late fall through early spring.
Current Facts
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, botanically classified as Ipomoea batatas ‘Stokes Purple®,’ are members of the Convolvulaceae or morning glory family. Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are known for their deep purple color, which intensifies when cooked and the vibrant coloring comes from the phytochemical anthocyanin, which is an antioxidant that has immune boosting properties. Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are most commonly used in culinary applications for their unusual hue and as a natural food dye.
Nutritional Value
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are extremely high in antioxidants, similar to other purple superfoods like acai, blueberries, and purple corn.
Applications
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are best suited for cooked applications such as baking, steaming, or roasting. The flesh is drier than most varieties, so adding one or two tablespoons of liquid to the recipe will achieve a more desirable consistency. The greater density of the Stokes Purple® sweet potato requires a longer cooking time than other varieties of sweet potato, but when cooked properly the potato will be tender and moist. Serve these purple vegetables steamed and mashed, roasted, or shredded for potato pancakes. The vibrant color also makes a striking pie, smoothies, or gnocchi. When using baking soda, caution should be taken because it can turn Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes dishes from bold purple to green. Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes will keep for a couple of weeks when stored in a cool and dark place.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes were first developed in Stokes Country, North Carolina, which was traditionally a tobacco growing region. With the influx of health information and a decline in tobacco cultivation, farmers were searching for an alternative item to produce. Sweet potatoes became the crop of choice because it was discovered that the farmers could use the same equipment and farming techniques as tobacco. Today North Carolina is one of the top states to produce sweet potatoes in the United States.
Geography/History
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are native to Stokes County, North Carolina and were discovered by Mike Sizemore in 2003. Rumor has it that he received potatoes of an unknown origin from a lady at the county fair. These tubers were propagated, then patented, and grown commercially in 2006 under the name Stokes Purple®. Today Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes can be found growing in the valley east of San Francisco, California and in North Carolina and are available at farmers markets and specialty grocers across the United States.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
| The Barista Botanist | San Diego CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
| Sovereign Thai Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-887-2000 |
| Chef Lance Roll | Vista CA | 760-685-2433 |
| Ridgeview Health Center | San Diego CA | 858-293-3950 |
| Artifact at Mingei | San Diego CA | 619-846-2164 |
| Copper Kings | San Marcos CA | 323-810-1662 |
| Savory Moment (1) | Carlsbad CA | 619-633-8863 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Hotel La Jolla - Sea & Sky | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0261 |
| Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
| Thai One On | Carlsbad CA | 760-500-8674 |
| Cloak and Petal | San Diego CA | 626-319-6878 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Stokes Purple® Sweet Potato. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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