Vegetable
Jewel
A tier
Jewel is a copper-skinned, deep orange North Carolina-associated sweet potato with moist flesh and a classic American “yam” grocery identity—though it is not a true yam. Roots are blocky to elongated with good pack-out for southeastern US farms. After curing, sugars rise and the flavour becomes candy-like when baked slowly. The workhorse of many eastern seaboard fresh markets before and alongside Beauregard dominance. Bake, candy with marshmallows in holiday dishes, or puree for baby food and pie filling. Slightly different skin tone and shape from Beauregard help graders and long-time growers tell seed stocks apart in the field.
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Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Jewel rose as a leading orange moist cultivar in southeastern US production.
North Carolina packing houses shipped Jewel widely as a fresh-market staple.
Beauregard competition reduced Jewel acreage while the name stayed familiar.
Heirloom-leaning growers and regional brands kept Jewel in limited commercial play.