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.
- “WNC farmers hopeful after waterlogged summer of 2013,” Asheville Citizen-Times: If music had been piped into the farmers tailgate markets operating around town on Saturday, it likely would have been a continual replay of Pharrell Williams’ smash hit, “Happy.” Happy indeed were farmers a week before the official start of summer, their booths filled with a bounty of greens, squash, cabbages, carrots, beets, cucumbers, turnips and even early tomatoes. …
- “NC Egg Market Sluggish and Oversupplied,” Southern Farm Network: At the 3 livestock auctions held Monday at Canton, Turnersburg and Siler City a total of 1389 cattle and 35 goats were sold. Slaughter cows trended mostly steady to $3.00 lower, feeder steers trended $1.00 to $6.50 lower, and heifers trended mostly $5.00 to $11.00 higher when compared to the previous week. N.C. Broiler-Fryers: The market is steady and the live supply is adequate to meet the moderate demand. Average weights are mostly desirable. The estimated slaughter for Tuesday in North Carolina is 2,960,000 head compared to 2,905,000 head last Tuesday. N.C. Eggs: The market is lower on all sizes. Supplies are heavy. Retail demand is moderate. Weighted average prices for small lot sales of grade A eggs delivered to nearby retail outlets: Extra Large 137.62, Large 132.97, Medium 119.03, and Small 112.00. …
- “Caterer brings taste of NC to U.S. Open,” WRAL: Ridgewells Catering, a company from Washington, D.C., is tasked with serving up championship-style meals every day for two weeks to the players and corporate guests at Pinehurst Resort for the U.S. Open. Susan Lacz is the company owner and the general for this invasion of the Sandhills. It’s a friendly battle though with no enemy, just a labor of love. It’s been Lacz’ responsibility to feed 60,000 people during the course of two U.S. Opens…Ridgewells recruited from the local community for the 600 or so chefs and food preparation staff who pull together fresh, handmade meals at a rate of about 60,000 per day. “Whenever we go into an area, we want to get a local flavor,” Lacz said. “We contracted with Parker’s Barbecue, and so they were serving us all of the barbecue.” …
- “Sustainable strawberries: Researcher’s work on strawberries could have significant results in North Carolina,” The Technician: At the rate of producing 10 to 15 tons of strawberries per year, North Carolina ranks third in the nation in strawberry production, but the state may one day become even more successful through the work of N.C. State crop science doctoral student Amanda McWhirt. …
- “North Carolina peach season gearing up, despite some spring frost damage,” News & Observer: Fresh, juicy, sweet North Carolina peaches are coming into season, and despite a hard winter, they’ll be available all summer at farmers markets and roadside stands.”The crop might look a little thin in some areas because of the frost and freeze this year,” said Mike Parker, a horticulture specialist at N.C. State University. But, Parker assured, “There will be peaches this summer from North Carolina.” It’s a good thing, since imported peaches just aren’t the same, said Dexter Hill, marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Peaches bought out-of-state likely have been picked unripe, stored and shipped, Hill said.”When you get it home and put it on your table, they will continue to ripen but they won’t be as sweet as a North Carolina peach,” he said. …
- “Agricultural partners laud AgHC’s work with farmers,” Hendersonville Times-News: Partners of Agribusiness Henderson County applauded the organization’s efforts to lift up farmers and promote local agriculture during an annual membership meeting and dinner Tuesday night at Burntshirt Vineyards.Bert Lemkes, co-owner of Van Wingerden International in Mills River, said he “cringed” when he first heard of “another great county government idea of adding another person to help the agricultural business in the county.” But Lemkes, one of several AgHC partners who offered testimonials during Tuesday’s annual meeting, said his initial skepticism was wrong. …Bill Yarborough, a special assistant to N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, hailed the county’s decision to create a full-time position promoting agribusiness and said he wished his home county of Haywood would follow suit. …
- “Reynolds American rolling out Vuse nationwide on Monday,” Winston-Salem Journal: National distribution begins Monday for Vuse, Reynolds American Inc.’s electronic cigarette brand, the company said Tuesday. R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., the subsidiary created to produce and market Vuse, said the product will debut in selected retail outlets. That includes WilcoHess, Quality Mart and 7-11 convenience store chains in the Triad. …