Happy Dirt Builds Organic Spring and Summer Supply Through Strategic Partnerships in North Carolina

Tue, 06 May 2025 15:54:54 GMT

As North Carolina’s spring crops hit peak volume and summer harvests approach, Happy Dirt reports a promising outlook for organic supply in 2025, thanks to continued expansion, strong grower partnerships, and a focus on season extension.

The Durham, N.C.-based organic produce distributor saw a 23.6% increase in farm purchases and a 25.3% increase in cases of organic produce sourced from North Carolina farms from 2023 to 2024. With 15% additional growth projected this year, Happy Dirt says its regional model is helping build consistency in supply while strengthening the local organic sector.

“Year-over-year growth allows our North Carolina organic growers to invest more in their operations, which translates into higher yields, new crop programs, and a more resilient supply chain for our customers,” said a representative from Happy Dirt.

Climate Advantage and Regional Season Extension for Organic Crops

North Carolina’s unique geography plays a key role. With three distinct climatic regions—coastal plain, Piedmont, and mountain—Happy Dirt is able to stagger production across climates and extend field-growing seasons well beyond the norm.

By working closely with its network of organic growers, the company creates crop plans aligned with market demand, allowing for extended availability of core items such as organic berries, cucumbers, greens, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.

Growers extend their seasons by adjusting planting dates, investing in greenhouse and high tunnel infrastructure, and incorporating innovative storage solutions. This approach allows Happy Dirt to offer a reliable supply of local organic produce from April through December, with certain crops—like organic sweet potatoes and organic leafy greens—available year-round.

Spring Volume High for Organic Berries, Broccoli, and Lettuce

This spring has delivered strong performance in several key categories. The season’s standout performer has been organic strawberries. Growers adapted to early-season planting challenges and have seen exceptional yields, aided by a dry, disease-suppressing weather pattern and larger-than-usual berry varieties. Volumes are expected to remain strong through May.

Organic Lettuce and organic spring greens—including red and green kale, rainbow chard, and collards—are also in full production from central and eastern North Carolina. Meanwhile, organic broccoli, a crop historically challenged by Southeastern spring weather, has benefited from grower refinements in heat-tolerant varieties and planting schedules.

Summer Organic Crops on Track: Peppers, Tomatoes, Corn

Looking ahead, summer crops are showing early promise. Happy Dirt will again feature organic summer squash, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and heirloom tomatoes, while building on specialty organic pepper programs that include shishitos, mini sweets, and poblanos—a diversification strategy that’s helping smaller growers reach new markets.

Eastern North Carolina’s organic bi-color sweet corn, grown by Happy Dirt Farmer-Owner Herbie Cottle , is expected to start the last week of May, arriving slightly earlier than last year. The crop benefits from careful succession planting and weather-driven pest management strategies.

Organic Blueberry Season and Ethical Sourcing Milestones

Organic blueberry volume from North Carolina’s coastal farms is expected to ramp up in mid to late May. Some of this supply is harvested by hand—a labor-intensive practice supported by Happy Dirt’s commitment to ethical sourcing. This year, the company will feature its first Fair Food Program-certified blueberry farm-partner, underscoring its investment in grower and worker welfare.

A Model for Regional Resilience

By leveraging geographic diversity and working collaboratively with organic farmers, Happy Dirt continues to strengthen its role as a reliable supplier of Southeastern-grown organic produce. With scalable growth and a commitment to extending the season, the company is helping to redefine what’s possible for organics in the Southeast.

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North Carolina organic sweet potato farmer Randall Watkins is a trailblazer for young farmers

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 21:48:54 GMT

Randall Watkins, Jr., a third-generation farmer from Granville County, North Carolina, is not just carrying forward his family’s agricultural legacy—he is transforming it. His journey from a tobacco farm to a budding leader in organic sweet potato production reflects his deep connection to the land and his innovative spirit. As the youngest Happy Dirt farmer-owner and the first organic sweet potato farmer in the U.S. to become Fair Food Certified , Watkins is a trailblazer for young farmers in North Carolina’s sustainable farm community.

The Path to Organic Farming

Farming has been the backbone of the Watkins family for generations. Watkins’s grandfather began as a tobacco farmer in the 1950s. “We started out as a tobacco farm in 1955,” he recalls. “My granddaddy passed the farm to my dad, and now I co-own the farm with my dad.” However, as the agricultural landscape changed and the demand for tobacco declined, Watkins saw the necessity and the opportunity to diversify the farm’s production.

Besides necessity and opportunity, Watkins’s transition to organic farming was influenced by personal conviction and external encouragement. “I knew that organic farming was healthier and that it also would give me the opportunity to grow more,” he explains. A neighbor, who owned a restaurant in Durham, NC, urged Watkins to pursue organic certification. From there, Watkins connected with Happy Dirt, an organic produce grower and distributor also located in Durham, NC, allowing him to scale up his operation. He became a Happy Dirt farmer-owner in 2018.

In 2015, Watkins began with 10 acres of organic sweet potatoes. Recognizing that North Carolina’s soil and climate are suited for sweet potatoes, he expanded rapidly. Today, the Watkins has 120 acres of certified organic sweet potatoes, with plans to grow even further. His farm now produces a variety of sweet potatoes, including Covington, Garnet, Murasaki, and purple sweet potatoes, meeting the growing demand nationally for organic produce.

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Innovation

Farming, especially organic farming, has its challenges. Weed pressure and insects are constant concerns, particularly in wet years. However, Watkins’s experience and resourcefulness help him navigate these obstacles. His approach to problem-solving is rooted in the wisdom passed down from his grandfather and father: “Don’t be scared to work on something. I mean, if it’s already broke, what can you mess up?”

This philosophy was put to the test in 2021 when a tractor broke down during the planting of broccoli and cabbage. Faced with an expensive repair bill, Watkins decided to fix the tractor himself—a decision that saved money and kept the farm running smoothly. It’s this blend of practicality and determination that has enabled Randall to thrive in a challenging industry.

Innovation is a key part of Watkins’s success. He is constantly looking for ways to improve and adapt. His willingness to experiment with new varieties, such as the Murasaki sweet potatoes, reflects his forward-thinking approach. By staying attuned to market demands and customer preferences, Watkins continues to position himself as a young leader in organic sweet potato production.

A Vision for the Future

As the farming population continues to age, Watkins’s story is one of hope for the future of agriculture. Young farmers like him are not only keeping the tradition of farming alive but are also leading the way in creating a more sustainable, resilient food system.

Looking ahead, Watkins is focused expanding his organic acreage to continue to meet the growing demand for organic sweet potatoes. His farm’s produce can already be found in major retailers, as well as regional co-ops and restaurants along the East Coast. With plans to distribute to the Midwest, Watkins’s influence is set to grow even further.

In a competitive industry with innate challenges, Randall Watkins, Jr. stands out. His journey from a small tobacco farm to a trailblazing organic sweet potato producer is a testament to the power of hard work, innovation, and a deep connection to the land. As he grows his farm and inspires young farmers, Watkins is helping to shape a more sustainable future for agriculture in North Carolina and beyond.

Nevada Ranch Honored for Stewardship Efforts

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:01:56 GMT

Maggie Creek Ranch, the Searle Family and ranch manager Jon Griggs were honored with one of seven regional Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) awards. The honorees, announced during the 2015 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, were recognized for their outstanding stewardship practices. This year’s regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be announced during the 25th anniversary celebration in January 2016.

ESAP is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, and is presented to farmers and ranchers who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the farm and ranch land in their care.

Maggie Creek Ranch is in the business of producing high quality beef while conserving and improving public and private lands. Their goal is to be the best possible stewards of their resources while feeding the world through production agriculture. The operation consists of approximately 198,000 acres of owned (deeded) and leased (public land grazing permit) land.

The Searle family and ranch manager Jon Griggs have worked to build long-term, positive relationships with agency staff and user groups to create an atmosphere of collaboration on both public and private lands. They see a challenge such as an Endangered Species Act listing as an opportunity for conservation projects for the betterment of the ranch.

“Our agency derives immense benefit because of Jon’s willingness to work collaboratively to demonstrate a shared vision for healthy Great Basin landscapes that benefit native wildlife species while also continuing the historic utilization of these landscapes by the ranching industry,” said Tony Wasley, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Since the early 1990s, the ranch has been a key partner in a collaborative effort to restore the Susie Creek watershed on both public and private lands with the goal of re-establishing Lahontan cutthroat trout. Over 25 miles of Susie Creek and its tributary streams have been improved through a combination of fencing and application of prescriptive grazing practices. Improvement of stream and riparian habitat conditions has been dramatic and recovery is to the point where cutthroat trout will be released into the system within the next few years.

“We’re really happy about how the rangeland health is coming along and how our riparian values are improving. All that improves the value of the ranch,” said Griggs. “I’m really proud of the work that we’ve done to improve our riparian areas and recover the trout habitat on the ranch.”

In addition to riparian and upland rangeland improvement through improved grazing management, cooperative noxious weed treatment work between Maggie Creek Ranch and the Bureau of Land Management has resulted in effective treatment of thousands of acres of scotch thistle and Russian knapweed. These efforts are ongoing and benefit habitat and wildlife on both public and private lands.

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:47:00 GMT

Control Union is one of the largest certification bodies worldwide with more than 100 years of experience in the produce industry. Our expertise covers the key certification fields in agriculture: organic, food safety and sustainability. “We provide services like certification, inspection and testing to clients in more than 80 countries,” says Daniel Montes, Business Development Manager.

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Organic:

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• regenagri (focus on soil health and climate change solutions)

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In the ever changing fresh produce world, growers, producers, processors, warehouses and shippers must comply with many certification requirements and schemes, depending on buyers and legislation. Control Union utilizes its global network to provide comprehensive solutions for your entire supply chain.

“Whether it’s certifications, commodity inspections, or collateral management services, our clients can find everything they need in one place and one communication channel,” says Montes, “and we guarantee that our assessments are totally independent.”

How We Work

From our Florida headquarters, Control Union services many produce clients in the Southeast. “A client receives the buyer’s request for a new assessment—social compliance, for example,” says Montes. “We move quickly in the application and contracting stage to schedule an audit as soon as possible within our client’s deadlines.”

Many Control Union clients use more than one program, such as the three main schemes: Primus GFS, organic and SMETA. “We help our clients design customized programs to meet their goals,” adds Montes.

Keeping Up with Industry Trends

Control Union is always moving forward, serving the produce industry by offering the newest programs. “With the industry heading towards a more sustainable future, we offer the latest sustainable programs— regenagri, FSA, GHG verifications and more,” says Montes. “Our goal is to build a better tomorrow for us and our partners. Together we are focused on a more sustainable, more efficient and safer world.” For more information, visit us at usa.controlunion.com

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