Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to the full story.
- “Blackberry boon in for WNC farmers,” Hendersonville Times News: The blackberry market in Henderson County has seen a huge surge in the past five years, with a majority of apple growers picking up the crop as it complements and extends their growing season. “It’s a good pick for apple growers,” said Marvin Owings, interim county Cooperative Extension director. “They have a cash crop coming in before apples.” In the past, people gathered wild blackberries next to roadsides, fighting pests and thorns. …
- “Blueberry Festival offers fun, sweet tastes for everyone this weekend,” Wilmington Star: Searching for blueberries this summer? Search no more. The eighth annual N.C. Blueberry Festival is Saturday, and blueberries are the premier star as folks will flock to Burgaw to celebrate Pender County’s favorite fruit. The blueberry, now commonly known for its nutritious value, has a long, successful rapport with Pender County. In 1932, the very first high bush blueberry plants grown in North Carolina were planted in Pender County. The fruit has been a hit ever since and beginning in 2003 the town of Burgaw decided to celebrate its success by organizing the N.C. Blueberry Festival. ” …
- “ A slice of rural history,” The Herald: Every other Wednesday this summer, we’ll spotlight a family-friendly attraction in and around Johnston County. Our first day trip takes us to northern Johnston’s biggest tourist draw, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum on U.S. 301 north of downtown Kenly. The museum, open since 1983, includes indoor exhibits on tobacco and farm life in Eastern North Carolina from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Behind the museum, a period home, school, barn and other farm buildings have been moved from elsewhere in Johnston County and restored. …
- “Farmers fight for a website,” News & Observer: Longtime farmer Alex Hitt doesn’t need a USDA website to help him grow tomatoes, flowers and blueberries at his Alamance County farm. But loading up his truck with a fresh harvest Wednesday afternoon, Hitt said the site sure helps him sell them. “What’s benefited us most is the consumer side of (the website),” said Hitt, 54, who owns Peregrine Farm with his wife, Betsy. “They can find farmers markets and stores that buy local.” Wednesday afternoon, before driving to set up his booth at the Carrboro Farmers Market, Hitt planned to call two members of Congress to voice his opposition to a short piece of legislation that might kill the little-known website “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.” …
- “Lowes Foods To Focus On Locally Grown,” WSOC-TV: Lowes Foods is trying to make a positive impact on the communities that they are located in and have teamed up with Pilot Mountain Pride in hopes of increasing the distribution of locally grown foods. Lowes is hoping with consumer participation to strengthen local economies, support local farms and reduce fuel consumption. There are many farmers in the area who contribute their locally grown foods to Lowes. Lindsay Deal owns a third-generation family farm located near the Bushy Mountains in Taylorsville, NC. The farm supplies Lowes with their peaches and apples. …
- “Residents unite to save farmland,” Cabarrus News: Since May, more than 120 Concord residents have banned together to help spread the word to “save” 250 acres of generations-old farmland from being annexed by the city of Concord. Landowners used social networking, posted dozens of signs on local roads and went door-to-door asking for support from neighbors. The city council had planned to hold a public hearing on the issue June 15, but during a work session last week unanimously voted to remove the farmland on Pitts School Road and Roberta Road from the annexation process. Mayor Scott Padgett and city manager Brian Hiatt said the proposed annexation could be used as a way to promote state conservation easement programs, which protect land indefinitely and allow owners to maintain rights of the property. …
- “Tobacco crop continues for at least one more year,” Lexington Dispatch: Raising tobacco has been a family affair for the Sinks since 1974. The tradition continues this year with Henry Sink Jr. farming his 37th consecutive tobacco crop on 42 acres in the unincorporated township of Yadkin College west of Lexington. Sink is one of 30 tobacco growers in Davidson County who has pushed through a changing tobacco industry to continue the crop. Sink, 57, began raising tobacco the same year he and his father, Henry Sink Sr., bought land on Yadkin College Road, property that has had tobacco raised on it since the 1800s, and the same year he married his wife, Nancy. …