AV THOMAS PRODUCE


A United States leader in the distribution of organic and conventional sweet potatoes.
LEARN MORE

MERCED COUNTY SWEET POTATOES


Over 80% of Californias sweet potato production happens right here in Merced County.
LEARN MORE

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1960


Read about A.V. Thomas Produce and the amazing history that began a great adventure.
LEARN MORE

Upcoming Inventory for Company Products


Edible Oils
LEARN MORE

LATEST NEWS

OUR MISSION

Mission Image

At A.V. Thomas Produce, we are committed to cultivating the freshest, healthiest, and most sustainable, certified organic and conventional sweet potatoes to nourish communities worldwide. Our mission is to grow, pack and distribute superior quality produce while upholding the highest standards of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Innovation at Work

We pride ourselves on the top notch quality product we produce, as well as how best we can serve our customers. This upgrade is a big part of the future of A.V. Thomas Produce! The only automated sweet potato packing line on the west coast and the only one of its kind in the United States. Always growing, evolving and leading the industry. #avthomasproduce #sweetpotatoes

Sustainability

We at A.V. Thomas Produce are devoted to bringing our production to the future. Which means going green, sustainability throughout our facilities. We have taken the first and largest steps in this direction by adding solar power to help offset the power consumption. New times require new innovations and that's exactly what we are geared to do. #solarpower #goinggreen

FRESH PRODUCE VARIETIES

Red Sweet Potatoes

Red Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Extra-moist and flavorful, with orange flesh and a red-copper to plum skin color.

Commonly referred to as "Yams", red sweet potatoes are the most popular sweet potato west of the Rockies.

Orange Sweet Potatoes

Orange Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Bright orange flesh, copper-colored skin, moist and sweet to taste.

Excellent for baking, roasting or in casseroles.

White Sweet Potatoes

White Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Yellow to cream-colored flesh and skin color. Slightly drier than the orange fleshed varieties, these semi-moist sweet potatoes have a mild, nutty taste. White sweet potato varieties include Bonita, O�Henry, DS White, Hannah and Jersey. They make excellent alternatives to standard Irish potatoes and are perfect in casseroles and side dishes, or simply baked and can elevate recipes beyond a traditional potato.

Slightly drier than the orange fleshed varieties, these semi-moist sweet potatoes have a mild, nutty taste.

Japanese Sweet Potatoes

Japanese Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Dark red, almost purple skin with a creamy white flesh. The drier flesh of Japanese sweet potatoes allows for extreme versatility in the kitchen. These potatoes can be shredded, cubed, riced, or cut anyway one could imagine and then cooked without losing it�s shape which is great for soups, hashbrowns, fries, the sky�s the limit! Japanese sweet potato varieties include Murasaki and Kotobuki. Often referred to as Batatas, Bonatios, Oriental Sweetpotato or Korean Yam, these sweet potatoes are useful in any cuisine and can elevate even the simplest of dishes like a baked potato or potato salad.

Stokes™ Purple Sweet Potatoes

Stokes™ Purple Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Dark purple skin and vibrant purple flesh, this unique proprietary variety is grown exclusively in California by A.V. Thomas Produce. It is most similar to the Japanese sweet potato characteristics in that it has a nutty and sweet flavor and dryer than orange flesh types of sweet potatoes. It can be used as an exotic alternative in recipes that call for regular potatoes.

Dark purple skin and vibrant purple fles

Okinawa Sweet Potatoes

Okinawa Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Pale white skin color with a lavender flesh that intensifies in color after cooking. Commonly referred to as Hawaiian Sweet Potato and is most popular in Polynesian and Japanese dishes. Prized for their high antioxidant levels, anthocyanin is the pigment which is responsible for the lavender color of the flesh. Mashed Okinawan Sweet Potatoes are a popular easy side dish which originated from the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

Okinawa Sweet Potatoes

Ben Yagi Purple Sweet Potatoes

Ben Yagi Purple Sweet Potatoes
View Details

Lighter in color than Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes, this delicate variety is available seasonally. Ben Yagi Sweet Potatoes have a tender semi-moist flesh and its vibrant hued coloring are another unique addition to the plate. Peak availability are during the fall and winter months, and will begin to taper off during the spring. Be sure to try these gems while their available!

Lighter in color than Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes

#2 Hass Avocado

#2 Hass Avocado
View Details

Known for its creamy texture and rich nutty flavor, #2 Hass Avocado offers the same delicious quality as premium Hass fruit with slight cosmetic imperfections. Perfect for guacamole, smoothies, and fresh dishes where taste matters most.

Ideal for guacamole, spreads, salads, smoothies, and everyday culinary preparations.

Fresh Lime

Fresh Lime
View Details

Bright, juicy, and aromatic, Fresh Limes deliver vibrant citrus flavor with a crisp acidity ideal for cooking, beverages, and everyday seasoning.

Ideal for beverages, marinades, dressings, garnishes, and enhancing flavor in a wide range of dishes.

Fresh Pear

Fresh Pear
View Details

Sweet, juicy, and delicately aromatic, Fresh Pears offer a smooth texture and balanced flavor perfect for snacking, baking, and culinary creations.

Perfect for snacking, desserts, salads, baking, and pairing with cheeses or beverages.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

As a child, living in North of Africa (Algeria) during the war, I became fond of the long and narrow yellow kind sweet potato, called there � Patate douce� Mother would make her very special syrup and roll them in it, one at the time, before she world bake them in the oven. To us kids, it was an occasional and special delicious dessert (food were restricted during the war) When we go to Costco, for grocery shopping, we buy a bag of Sweet potatoes, the orange kind and while reading the Buyer's guide, included in it, I was impressed about all the information it contained and witch I never knew. I also appreciated the recipes and the Health Benefits information.I thought you would like to know so thank you.

LATEST RECIPES

Classic Canola French Fries

Sunday, 23 November 2025

Sweet Sweet Potato Cornbread

Saturday, 22 November 2025

Sweet Potato Pasta

Saturday, 22 November 2025

What's the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Depending on who you ask…

Although orange-fleshed sweet potatoes have traditionally been referred to as "yams" in parts of the United States and Canada, they are not part of the same family as True Yams and therefore that are not actually "yams".  True Yams are cultivated in Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Caribbean and Oceania and not traditionally in the United States or Canada.

 

In the United States, it's easier.

Today it is still accepted that the word "Yam" can be used to describe the moist orange fleshed varieties of sweet potatoes, though we advise using the proper term "Sweet Potato" or "Sweetpotato".

Image

Can The Word "Yam"!

Image

California sweet potato farmers are on a mission to end consumer confusion, entice younger buyers and increase retail sales of this superfood, according to a news release.

It's very likely that many shoppers who come into the store looking for sweet potatoes are walking away confused and empty-handed, when what they see on the shelf is labeled a yam, or perhaps it's the reverse — they're looking for yams, but the sign says sweet potato.

To clear things up, the California Sweet Potato Council has launched a campaign for California retailers that aims to educate consumers and drive sales of sweet potatoes.

The message to consumers is simple: "Yams = Sweet Potatoes"

Sweet potatoes come in all kinds of colors — red, orange, white and even purple. You may see moist orange flesh varieties of sweet potatoes labeled as yams in the grocery store, but they're actually sweet potatoes.  True yams are very different from sweet potatoes and are a starchy, tuberous vegetable mostly grown in Africa. These are not grown and are largely not available in the U.S., despite what you might see on display signs.

NATURE'S SUPERFOOD

Fresh Sweet Potatoes have been certified by the America Heart Association (AHA) to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The American Cancer Society, American Dietetic Association and AHA support eating sweet potatoes which are nutritious and can be helpful in the prevention of disease.
Nutrition Image