Every sweet potato season, a familiar group of skilled, hardworking individuals returns to Delhi to help bring in Louisiana’s sweet potato harvest.
This season, they’re finding more than just a place to work—they’re finding a place to belong.
To support these valued workers, Black Gold Farms recently purchased the former Embers hotel on Front Street in Winnsboro to provide a safe, comfortable place to call home after long days in the fields.
The hotel has an occupancy of 300 people.
“We see the same faces return year after year, and we’ve come to know them not just as workers, but as part of our community,” said Travis Crowell, farm manager at Black Gold Farms in Delhi. “They bring dedication and experience that help us grow a high-quality sweet potato crop, and we want them to know they are valued.”
Black Gold Farms’ Delhi location is a major hub for sweet potato production, supplying fresh and processor markets nationwide. The company’s people-first approach ensures consistency and quality while honoring the contributions of those who power its fields.
All returning non-resident workers participate in the H-2A guest worker program. This enables the workers to return legally each season to help with the harvest while building relationships with Black Gold Farms and the surrounding communities.
Eric Halverson, CEO of Black Gold Farms, said the investment in housing is part of the company’s commitment to a great culture that supports its employees. “Good farming is about more than good soil; it’s about the people who are willing to work hard and care about the crops they grow,” Halverson said. “Providing a safe, welcoming place to stay is one way we can show our appreciation for the people who make our work possible.”
The team’s dedication and the farm’s investments reflect Black Gold Farms’ broader commitment to digging deeper into every community it serves. For Delhi and the surrounding region, that means supporting local jobs, investing in people, and partnering with the community to keep agriculture a thriving part of Louisiana’s economy.
As Black Gold Farms continues to grow with the Delhi community, it remains committed to being a good neighbor, a responsible employer, and a leader in agriculture. Local residents are invited to get in touch to learn more about its Delhi operation and the people who help make it a success.
Black Gold Farms is a fourth-generation, familyowned farming operation and one of the nation’s leading growers, packers and shippers of potatoes and sweet potatoes for chipping, processing and retailers.
Headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota, with 11 locations across the U.S., Black Gold Farms produces and delivers nearly a billion pounds of potatoes and sweet potatoes annually for customers nationwide.
