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.
- “Fair offers fun on final weekend,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Time is running short to visit the 19th annual North Carolina Mountain State Fair. The celebration continues through Sunday at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center fairgrounds at 1301 Fanning Bridge Road across from Asheville Regional Airport. …
- “Dole in talks to sell packaged food, Asia cos.,” Charlotte Observer: Dole Foods said Wednesday that it’s in “advanced negotiations” to sell its packaged foods and Asia fresh businesses to Japanese trading company Itochu Corp. …
- “Nash County outlines incentives for chicken plant,” WRAL: Some Nash County residents are still worried about a proposed chicken processing plant that would employee 1,100 workers. The county commission agreed Tuesday to meet with a University of North Carolina expert before making a final decision on incentives for the plant. …
- “Land-of-Sky gets $90,000 grant to expand agribusiness in WNC,” Hendersonville Times-News: The Land-of-Sky Regional Council received a $90,000 grant that will help expand and enhance the local food and forest economy in Western North Carolina and support jobs, according to a news release from U.S. Senator Kay Hagan’s office Wednesday. …
- “Workshop geared toward produce businesses,” Burlington Times-News: The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will hold a workshop Oct. 3 on protecting your produce business. …
- “Lowes Foods Surpasses Local Produce Goal,” Supermarket News: Lowes Foods reported that it has exceeded its goal of selling 10% local produce as part of the North Carolina 10% Campaign. …
- “Organic, sustainable and in its fourth generation, Pine Knot Farms turns 100,” Independent Weekly: Paper-covered tables form long lines near the entrance to Pine Knot Farms in Hurdle Mills, mimicking the tidy rows of tobacco that grow nearby. Under a large, white tent, family members, fellow farmers and friends gather with fried chicken and sweet potato pie to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the property, which belongs to Stanley Hughes. …
- “Chain saw artist remembered,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Chain saw artist Dan Smathers died doing what he loved — sharing his art and his faith with friends and strangers at the N.C. Mountain State Fair. …
- “Watauga could benefit from TVA settlement funds,” Watauga Democrat: Watauga is among 17 Western North Carolina counties that could benefit from millions of dollars from a 2011 settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority to address excessive air pollution from its coal-fired power plants. N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler last week outlined a plan for using $2.24 million in funds from the state’s settlement with the TVA to benefit Western North Carolina. …
- “Two Ag Research Centers in NC Turn 100 this Year,” Southern Farm Network: North Carolina’s Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler says that September is a notable month for the Research Stations Division at the NCDA, as two research stations are celebrating their 100th anniversaries. The Oxford Tobacco Research Station in Oxford and the Tidewater research Station in Plymouth have both reached the century mark. These two make five over the century mark in the state. …