It Takes A Village to Raise Taters

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About 7 miles outside of Bayboro, heading northeast on Hwy. 304, when you near Cash Corner and Vandemere, you will stumble upon McCotter Farms / Sackett Potatoes.  This week, trucks from all over the country have made their way here to pick up one of Pamlico County's largest agricultural assets, “taters”.

For generations, Pat McCotter and his family worked one of the most productive farms in Eastern North Carolina.  With the rich black, organic soil of Pamlico County, McCotter Farms has produced potatoes and corn for many years. 

Potatoes love Pamlico County sunshine and soil. 
Photo courtesy Cathie Hopkins, Sackett Potatoes
Vandemere, North Carolina 
Potatoes ready for harvest.
Photo courtesy Brian Sackett, Sackett Potatoes
Vandemere, North Carolina
In 2012, Sackett Potatoes, a 6th generation Michigan based potato farm was able to carry on the McCotter family legacy.  In February and March, the farm begins planting acres of potatoes.  By mid-June, the harvest begins.  Lasting approximately 6 weeks, over 700 semi loads of Pamlico County “taters” will be distributed throughout the country. That equates to an average of 31 million pounds of spuds leaving Pamlico County and heading to companies such as Frito-Lay, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Wise, Great Lakes, Herrs, Snyders-Lance, Shearers and Utz.

Trucks ready to load with Pamlico County Potatoes
Photo courtesy Cathie Hopkins, Sackett Potatoes
Vandemere, North Carolina
Potatoes are just one annual crop produced at Sackett Potatoes.  Corn and soybeans are also harvested throughout the year.  During the off seasons, equipment and storage are cleaned up and maintained to be ready for the next harvest.

But the biggest asset to the farms is the people who work there.  A combination of family, friends, and neighbors in the community and surrounding villages make up the farm family who laboriously work in the fields, on the harvesters, driving trucks and in the office to keep America fed.  They are blessed to live and work in such a diverse community and alongside mother nature and we are blessed that they choose Pamlico County as their home. 

Sackett Potatoes is a sixth generation family owned farm.  Alan Sackett farmed with his father and brothers until he branched off and started Sackett Potatoes in 1987 with his sons, Jeff and Brian.  In 2018, Brian’s son, Tyler became a business partner.  The business continues to grow with Sackett Potatoes growing crops in Michigan, North Carolina and Illinois. 

So the next time you open a bag of potato chips, you may be munching on a spud grown right here in Pamlico County.

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