Local sweet potato chip scores a win

Those popular Sweet Potato Crackers from Polka Dot Bakery have earned one award from the National Assocation of Specialty Foods and is a finalist for another.

The cracked black pepper version won a silver sofi -- Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation -- and is a finalist for a gold. According to Michelle Miller, a Polka Dot co-owner, winning a silver makes the cracker one of the top three in this year's sofi competition. The cracker goes up for the gold for Best Cracker at the summer Fancy Food show in Washington in June.

Polka Dot's sweet potato crackers are made with N.C. grown sweet potatoes. They're available at Fresh Market, Reid's Fine Foods, Charlotte Earth Fare stores, Eco-Licious, Simply Local at the Atherton Market, on Saturdays at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market and at the bakery, 1730 E. Woodlawn Road.