Show Sweet Potatoes Used Commercially Nina Brown Contributor TURKEY with sweet potatoes sweet potato pie and candied sweet potatoes are a few of our favorite culinary delights for Thanksgiving But few Americans Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans actually know where the sweet potato comes from The sweet potato plant is native native native na na- na- na tive to the tropical climates of the southern United States and is cultivated cultivated cultivated in sandy or loamy soils throughout the warmer regions of the world The plant scientifically known as batatas is part of the morning glory family Con- Con Sweet potatoes are thick roots that are not only edible but used for many commercial purposes The sweet potato yields an import import- r ant starch staTch used for sizing textiles and papers for the manufacturing of adhesives and in laundries In the United States large quantities quantities quan quan- of sweet potatoes are freshly harvested or shredded and dried to tobe tobe tobe be used as feed for livestock In the early days of American history Southern plantation hostesses hostesses hostesses host host- esses were known for their unctuous unctuous unctuous ous sweet potato puddings and other sweet potato recipes |