North Carolina
Severe drought and unseasonable spring heat in North Carolina are causing significant yield losses for specialty crops like brassicas and berries while simultaneously increasing pest pressures for regional organic growers.
Growers expect production to bounce back after weather challenges last year.
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Driven by growing demand from national and local retailers, the family-run farm is now harvesting from 65 certified organic acres.
As the Adverse Effect Wage Rate continues to climb year after year for the H-2A guestworker program with little clarity on how the USDA calculates the rates, organizations are saying, “enough is enough.”
Growers have embraced change by expanding varieties and adapting for the future.
From license plates to social media influencers, here’s how marketing organizations in Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina and California are aiming to drive sales.
Sweet potatoes lead the list of top-dollar fruit and vegetable commodities in North Carolina and South Carolina, according to USDA agricultural statistics for 2022.
L&M has added to its acreage to accommodate growing customers’ needs and has expanded its portfolio in the past five years to include broccoli and melons.
North Carolina and South Carolina are anything but small potatoes when it comes to peanut production.
North Carolina fresh fruit and vegetable shipments rose 6% in 2022 when compared with 2021, according to USDA data.
The biggest highlight of the marketing campaign for Durham, N.C.-based Happy Dirt sweet potatoes this spring is education around the product and the growers, said Taylor Meadows, marketing coordinator.
Robin Narron, marketing director and sales support for Nash Produce, says that sweet potato movement can increase up to 20% during the Easter sales period.
North Carolina sweet potatoes check all the boxes for today’s consumers, says Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.
With the organic muscadine grape program, Happy Dirt and one of the company’s North Carolina farmer-partners are working to build awareness around the grape’s unique flavors, adaptability and health benefits.
While the yield is down for this season, the organization reported success in pilot programs to promote sweetpotatoes outside of the seasonal holiday window.
Farm Fresh Produce Inc., Faison, N.C., has hired Oscar Avila as its lead salesman specializing in sweet potatoes.
Despite a challenging season, North Carolina’s premium sweet potatoes are set to hit supermarket shelves and dinner tables in time for Thanksgiving and winter holidays.
For U.S. produce growers, the bark of Hurricane Dorian was worse than its bite.
Farm Pak Products Inc., Spring Hope, N.C., is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Growing sweet potatoes is a labor-intensive business
Marketing the spring harvest and stored produce of the Carolinas isn’t the same game these days.
In the Carolinas, spring and summer produce is an edible rainbow. And the harvest is looking good, growers say.
The North Carolina State Ports Authority set a new record for refrigerated container volume.
The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission has named Michelle Grainger its new executive director.
The USDA has imposed sanctions on First Fruits Holdings LLC, doing business as Four Rivers Onion Packing, (First Fruits), Wake Forest, N.C., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.
The USDA has filed an administrative complaint against sweet potato company Southern Produce Distributors, Faison, N.C., alleging the company failed to pay $3.49 million to produce sellers.