Thank you for Subscribing to Agri Business Review Weekly Brief
Howell Farming Co. has been recognized by Agri Business Review Magazine as the exclusive recipient of “Top Sweet Potatoes Farming Solutions 2026,” based on our proprietary methodology, reflecting its position in the industry, and is also named among “,” reflecting its broader leadership. This profile has been developed by the Agri Business Review research and editorial team based on insights from an interview with Danny Beasley Jr., Sales and Operations Manager.
Howell Farming Co.
Generations of Farming Consistency
When Frank Howell planted nine acres of sweet potatoes in 1985, the crop was still considered a niche in North Carolina. At the time, few growers in the area were producing sweet potatoes commercially, but the region’s soil types proved well-suited to the crop. Built on that foundation, the nine acres evolved into Howell Farming Co., a family-run business that grows, packs, stores, and ships sweet potatoes across domestic and international markets.
As operations expanded, the company moved beyond farming, establishing its own packing house in 2010 and steadily adding climate-controlled storage capacity to support year-round shipments. Throughout this growth, Howell Farming Co. has maintained the same production standards it has followed over the years.
“We have grown alongside our customers by maintaining uncompromising consistency through disciplined handling at every stage of our sweet potato production,” says Danny Beasley Jr., sales and operations manager. “We have a standard, and we never go below it.”
That process begins with seed selection. The company uses greenhousegrown seed stock supplied through North Carolina State University’s micropropagation program. Fields are selected based on soil type and managed through a three- to four-year crop rotation that includes watermelons, peanuts, and soybeans. Soil fertility is then monitored through annual sampling, with input from a crop consultant.
Though labor remains a common issue across the industry, Howell Farming Co. works with a crew it has partnered with for years. The company relies on an H-2A seasonal workforce that supports multiple stages of production throughout the year. The crews begin with watermelon transplanting, then switch to sweet potato transplanting, followed by harvest operations.
During production, crews trained specifically in sweet potato handling carefully avoid skinning. Irrigation is limited in production fields, while center pivot systems are used for plant beds. Weather remains a major factor in the region, and farmland continues to be lost as housing development expands into agricultural areas.
Once harvested, the potatoes are moved to curing facilities, where temperature and humidity are controlled in enclosed rooms. These climate-controlled rooms allow the crop to stabilize during the curing process, after which the potatoes can be stored in the same rooms until they are ready for packing and distribution.
Inside the packing operation, Howell Farming Co. uses a non-electronic sizing system as part of its handling process. Shipments are prepared in multiple formats to meet customer requirements, including bulk cartons, microwavable shrink-wrap packaging, and three- and five-pound bags, which have seen increased demand in recent years.
The company coordinates shipping operations in-house, scheduling trucks and loading containers on-site. Containers are shipped through export ports in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, supporting major retail customers across the U.S. and in international markets in the UK and Europe.
Behind the scenes, Frank Howell works alongside his wife, Lynette, and the next generation of the family. Their son, Garrett Howell, serves as farm manager, while their daughter, Melissa Beasley, oversees food safety, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Melissa’s husband, Danny Beasley Jr., manages sales, logistics, and packinghouse operations. Together, the family keeps each stage of the business closely coordinated rather than fragmented across departments. This approach ensures high-quality production, reinforces long-standing customer relationships, and positions Howell Farming Co. as a Top Sweet Potato Producer.
Recently, the company has added Murasaki sweet potatoes alongside its primary Covington production, while broccoli and watermelons remain part of its broader crop rotation. Even as the crop mix evolves, Howell Farming Co. continues to rely on the same handling practices that guide its work across crops and seasons.
As operations expanded, the company moved beyond farming, establishing its own packing house in 2010 and steadily adding climate-controlled storage capacity to support year-round shipments. Throughout this growth, Howell Farming Co. has maintained the same production standards it has followed over the years.
“We have grown alongside our customers by maintaining uncompromising consistency through disciplined handling at every stage of our sweet potato production,” says Danny Beasley Jr., sales and operations manager. “We have a standard, and we never go below it.”
That process begins with seed selection. The company uses greenhousegrown seed stock supplied through North Carolina State University’s micropropagation program. Fields are selected based on soil type and managed through a three- to four-year crop rotation that includes watermelons, peanuts, and soybeans. Soil fertility is then monitored through annual sampling, with input from a crop consultant.
Though labor remains a common issue across the industry, Howell Farming Co. works with a crew it has partnered with for years. The company relies on an H-2A seasonal workforce that supports multiple stages of production throughout the year. The crews begin with watermelon transplanting, then switch to sweet potato transplanting, followed by harvest operations.
-
We have grown alongside our customers by maintaining uncompromising consistency through disciplined handling at every stage of our sweet potato production. We have a standard, and we never go below it.
During production, crews trained specifically in sweet potato handling carefully avoid skinning. Irrigation is limited in production fields, while center pivot systems are used for plant beds. Weather remains a major factor in the region, and farmland continues to be lost as housing development expands into agricultural areas.
Once harvested, the potatoes are moved to curing facilities, where temperature and humidity are controlled in enclosed rooms. These climate-controlled rooms allow the crop to stabilize during the curing process, after which the potatoes can be stored in the same rooms until they are ready for packing and distribution.
Inside the packing operation, Howell Farming Co. uses a non-electronic sizing system as part of its handling process. Shipments are prepared in multiple formats to meet customer requirements, including bulk cartons, microwavable shrink-wrap packaging, and three- and five-pound bags, which have seen increased demand in recent years.
The company coordinates shipping operations in-house, scheduling trucks and loading containers on-site. Containers are shipped through export ports in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, supporting major retail customers across the U.S. and in international markets in the UK and Europe.
Behind the scenes, Frank Howell works alongside his wife, Lynette, and the next generation of the family. Their son, Garrett Howell, serves as farm manager, while their daughter, Melissa Beasley, oversees food safety, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Melissa’s husband, Danny Beasley Jr., manages sales, logistics, and packinghouse operations. Together, the family keeps each stage of the business closely coordinated rather than fragmented across departments. This approach ensures high-quality production, reinforces long-standing customer relationships, and positions Howell Farming Co. as a Top Sweet Potato Producer.
Recently, the company has added Murasaki sweet potatoes alongside its primary Covington production, while broccoli and watermelons remain part of its broader crop rotation. Even as the crop mix evolves, Howell Farming Co. continues to rely on the same handling practices that guide its work across crops and seasons.
Sustaining Quality and Continuity In Sweet Potato Farming
Executives responsible for sourcing sweet potato farming solutions confront a narrow margin for error. Yield variability, land availability pressure and the perishability of produce demand a system that maintains consistency across seasons rather than chasing short-term gains. The challenge is not only to grow at scale but to preserve quality through handling, storage and distribution without introducing volatility into supply commitments.
Land pressure continues to reshape agricultural planning. Expansion of residential development steadily reduces available farmland, forcing producers to extract more value from existing acreage while avoiding soil degradation. Weather variability adds another layer of uncertainty, influencing both yield and crop timing. These constraints elevate the importance of disciplined crop rotation, soil monitoring and selective irrigation rather than broad application of inputs. Producers that maintain multi-year rotation cycles and align crop selection with soil characteristics tend to sustain output quality while preserving long-term field viability.
Consistency in output is inseparable from process control across the entire lifecycle. The transition from seed selection to harvest handling determines whether produce retains market grade over extended storage periods. A reliable system begins with verified seed sources, continues through field selection and cultivation practices and extends into harvest methods that minimize physical damage. Handling discipline at harvest is often overlooked, yet it directly affects shelf life and appearance, which in turn influence downstream pricing and acceptance by major buyers.
Post-harvest infrastructure introduces another decisive factor. Climate-controlled curing and storage environments enable year-round supply, reducing exposure to seasonal fluctuations and allowing producers to align shipments with market demand. Temperature and humidity stability during storage preserves product integrity, while packing processes must balance efficiency with care to avoid compromising quality. Standardization in packaging formats, particularly for retail-ready units, reflects an understanding of evolving buyer preferences toward convenience and consistency. Demand signals increasingly favor formats that reduce preparation time and support predictable portioning for end consumers.
Distribution capability further differentiates viable partners. Exporting perishable goods requires synchronized logistics, from on-site loading to port coordination and transit scheduling. Producers that manage containerization, shipping routes and year-round dispatch demonstrate an ability to maintain continuity across international markets. This logistical reliability, combined with a stable customer base, signals a system that has been refined over time rather than assembled reactively. Consistency in delivery cadence often becomes as important as product quality for long-term buyer alignment.
Within this context, Howell Farming Co. presents a model grounded in continuity and disciplined execution. Its growth from a small acreage base into an operation that includes farming, packing, and storage reflects a deliberate expansion of storage and packing capabilities alongside cultivation. It maintains a multi-year crop rotation and annual soil sampling process, aligning production practices with field conditions. Harvest crews trained in careful handling and controlled curing facilities allow it to store produce for extended periods. Its packing operations support both bulk and retail-ready formats, including microwavable packaging and three- and five-pound bags. The company manages its own logistics, coordinating shipments to domestic and international markets throughout the year. Its adherence to consistent standards, rather than frequent process changes, supports long-term customer relationships.
...Read more
Company
Howell Farming Co.
Management
Danny Beasley Jr., Sales and Operations Manager
Description
Howell Farming Co. is a North Carolina-based agricultural business specializing in sweet potato production. It is a third-generation family farming operation that grows, packs, and ships produce for domestic and international markets. The company operates controlled storage systems, employs crop rotation practices, and focuses on consistent quality year-round.
