Trace Your Starling Purple Sweet Potato
Breeder
For nearly two decades, the Covington sweet potato has reigned supreme—accounting for over 90% of North Carolina’s crop (the country’s largest producer) and setting the standard nationwide. Released in 2005 from Dr. Craig Yencho’s breeding program at NC State, Covington became a grower favorite thanks to its reliability, adaptability and consistent yields.
But Yencho and his team weren’t content to stop there. Their next chapter: pushing sweet potatoes into new territory—not just improving the familiar orange types, but diversifying the category with more flavor, more nutrition and more color. Starling is the delicious result. Naturally rich in sweet, earthy flavor and high in anthocyanins, it delivers both culinary versatility and antioxidant power.
Trial Network
The Starling sweet potato was trialed over multiple seasons by Grower Chef Network, a participatory community of 150 chefs and growers. The network provided early feedback on the Starling and explored its applications in the field and the kitchen, enabling Row 7 to better predict where the variety will thrive.
Seed Producers
Our Starling sweet potato slips were produced by Jones Family Farms.
Growers
To bring Starling to market, we partnered with a network of organic farmers who share our passion for exceptional flavor—starting with the soil. These growers have nurtured this new variety from seed to harvest. This isn’t just a sweet potato—it’s a collaboration rooted in purpose.