Pacific Union Produce is a 4th generation grower, packer, and shipper of sweet potatoes, with roots that date back a century! Clay Janes started farming in the early 1920’s in the heart of California’s Central Valley.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that Pacific Union Produce first started growing sweet potatoes as a rotation crop; sweet potatoes became so successful that they now grow over 550 acres of them. Today, the farm is run by Jed Kruppa (great-grandson of Clay Janes), along with his siblings and other family members. Growing sweet potatoes in abundant supply is challenging and labor intensive; the farm employs up to 250 people during peak seasons of planting, harvesting and holiday packing. The farm was certified organic in 2021 and they expect their organic program to double in acreage within the next year. We are delighted to welcome Pacific Union Produce to the organic community.

Carl Kruppa, Jed’s dad established a family tradition of innovative almond orchard management and planting wildflowers along the borders of various ranches. Protecting bees, their health and longevity, and growing their population was a passion of Carl’s, which he passed along to family and neighbors. The family has a full-time beekeeper who travels around to the different ranches where they have hives.

Check out Pacific Union Produce’s extensive recipes section on their website and learn how to make the perfect sweet potato quiche, sweet potato gingerbread cookies, and more!

Fun fact: you may recognize our vegetable and herb label Sea to Sky; the farmer, Chris Kruppa Laughlin, is Carl’s daughter, and has her own farm in the Santa Cruz area. Sea to Sky maintains 154 beehives, which the family beekeeper tends, as well.