The summer of 2026 is coming to a close. The Snack writers here in California have made it through another three-month stretch of high temperatures ranging from 90 to 100-plus degrees, and the promise of cooler weather offers a welcome reprieve.
With the changing of the seasons comes another transformation—the one that happens in the consumer kitchen. Bright summer salad recipes are stowed away as shoppers in the Northern Hemisphere begin pulling out warm and comforting meals to carry them through the fall and winter.
While sweet potatoes serve as a staple in my kitchen year-round, the transition from late summer to early fall ushers in supplies from North Carolina, touting rich flavors and unmatched eating qualities. Happy Dirt, I have come to understand, is one provider whose North Carolina sweet potato supply is well-positioned to bolster retail programs into the cooler months.
“We pride ourselves on great customer service when it comes to keeping our customers up to date.”
- Laura Cloak, Sales Manager, Happy Dirt
“Our programs offer retailers on the East Coast and beyond the ability to bring in one of the best regional programs in the Southeast,” Taylor Meadows, Marketing Manager, began telling me when I asked how Happy Dirt supports its retail partners heading into the fall. “We have consistent branding on all of our items and can also support customers with customized in-store marketing, whether that is signage or various marketing partnerships involving social media, farmer profiles, and more.”
As we all know, there are many steps involved in the journey from field to shelf. How do we ensure the carefully grown product reaches its full potential in the hands of consumers? This is where collaboration between growers and retailers is essential. Partners of Happy Dirt can count on the fact that North Carolina sweet potatoes will be backed by category insights.
“With decades of experience, our team can help coach and guide customers on everything from item selection to merchandising to supporting in-store displays and signage. We have a close relationship with all of our organic sweet potato farmer-partners, so the guidance we give to retailers comes directly from the guidance that farmers have given to us about their product,” Taylor continued.
Supply chain reliability is crucial in the fresh produce industry. With so many shoppers looking to diversify their carts as the seasons change, Happy Dirt is a steadfast partner with the consistency needed to build trust.
“We pride ourselves on great customer service when it comes to keeping our customers up to date,” Laura Cloak, Happy Dirt’s Sales Manager, explained. “Produce, especially on the East Coast, can have its challenges, and we know the importance of reducing surprises and delivering the highest quality items for our customers.”
“Our programs offer retailers on the East Coast and beyond the ability to bring in one of the best regional programs in the Southeast,”
- Taylor Meadows, Marketing Manager, Happy Dirt
Of course, that reliability and trust are sown long before Happy Dirt’s products make their way to the grocery store. Consistency starts in the field, and Happy Dirt bolsters its programs through the deep relationships built with its growers.
“Our programs are very diversified. We have multiple farmer-owners and partners in North Carolina that help extend our season from April into December on many items. Our overall organic acreage in North Carolina is now over 2,000 acres,” Laura pointed out. “In addition to North Carolina, we have a number of other key farm partners in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. We offer organic Covington sweet potatoes as well as purples, Murasakis, Garnets, and Bonitas in bulk, and all of these except Bonitas are also available in 3 lb bags.”
As a shining example of these formidable bonds with Happy Dirt’s grower partners, Laura points to Randall Watkins.
“Randall is our youngest farmer-owner, and he also sits on our Board of Directors. Making his mark in the category, he was the first farmer in North Carolina and the first organic sweet potato farmer in the United States to become Fair Food Certified. He grows all of his organic sweet potatoes for Happy Dirt,” Laura relayed.
While it is true that Happy Dirt maintains a formidable network of partners to keep its North Carolina sweet potato program running smoothly, the supplier is never one to stand still. On a final note, Taylor teased what Happy Dirt is looking forward to in the coming months.
“We’re excited to start introducing more prepackaged items to build out our portfolio. We’re currently developing a prepackaged program for summer squash, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplant, which we hope to launch in fall 2026. We’ll be following that up with a tray-packed organic bicolor sweet corn program beginning in the 2027 season,” Taylor concluded.
As the sun sets on summer and we move toward the fall and winter seasons, the produce industry keeps churning. Retailers are beginning to shift their programs and merchandising strategies to meet increasing demand for colder-weather eating occasions. And along with that transition, Happy Dirt will be ready to offer its support. 
