Below is a summary of local interest stories that have recently been highlighted on the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ In the Field Blog. Please feel free to use any of this content or photos in your publications or contact us if you have any additional questions.
Eastern
(Brunswick) A step back to our medicinal heritage at Shelton Herb Farm
Culinary and medicinal herbs are a large part of our state’s specialty crop industry. From basil and cilantro to hearty celery and edible flowers, Shelton Herb Farm in Leland produces a variety of products each year for customers to enjoy in the kitchen, in the yard, in the garden and more. Shelton Herb Farm is a Century Family Farm that has been in operation since the mid-1800’s. Although the farm’s focus has changed over the years, the Shelton family has always tended an herb and veggie garden for themselves. “About 40 years ago, Margaret Shelton, the current owner of Shelton Herb Farm, saw a real opening in the specialty crop market for culinary and medicinal herbs,” said Alex Modly, Farm Manager at Shelton Herb Farm. “She originally started with 10 herb varieties, and has grown to over 1,000 varieties of herbs, native plants, ornamentals and edible flowers.” Today, Shelton Herb Farm consists of 16 greenhouses, a 9,000 square foot yard, and a 4-5,000 square foot outdoor garden. ...
(Duplin, Sampson and Wayne counties) Growing cucumbers at Strickland Farming
Did you know that North Carolina ranks fifth nationally in cucumber production? From farmers that grow cucumbers to businesses that process them into pickles, cucumbers are a major commodity across our state. Reginald (aka Reggie) Strickland, owner and operator of Strickland Farming Group in Mount Olive, has been growing cucumbers, along with a variety of other crops, for many years, and knows firsthand how much they provide for farmers and the agriculture industry as a whole. As a seventh-generation farmer, Reggie has always had a strong love for agriculture. “This farm has been in my family for generations,” he said. “From my grandfather growing tobacco and my dad operating the warehouse to me coming up in the industry and learning from my grandfather, agriculture runs in our veins and will always be home to me.”
(Johnston) In The Kitchen with N.C. cucumbers
Cucumbers are not only a staple at farms and markets across the state, but also on restaurant tables and catering menus. Chef Blake Gotliffe, owner and head chef at Under the Oak Catering Company in Smithfield, has a long history of growing and cooking cucumbers. In fact, he continues to reference them as “a staple” in our state’s culinary scene. Chef Blake has been involved with the hospitality industry since his first job at Kentucky Fried Chicken when he was 15 years old. “From my very first job until now, I’ve always had a love for cooking and the restaurant industry,” he said. “Although I loved it at a young age, I never saw it as a professional career until my then girlfriend, now wife, suggested I become a chef.” Blake met his wife, Megan, at a bar where she worked as a waitress. In addition to working part-time, Megan was also in college at Wake Technical Community College to become a pastry chef. ...
(Sampson) Specialty Crops research & importance in N.C. agriculture
Specialty crops are a large part of our state’s agriculture industry, contributing to the diversity that exists across the state. From the mountains to the coast, specialty crops are being researched and developed across our state’s network of 18 research stations. In fact, Hunter Barrier, superintendent of the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton and coordinator of the New & Emerging Crops Program, works with more than 30 different crops each year! In his role, Hunter has a front row seat to all the new and upcoming research across our state’s number one industry.
(Sampson) Scoot Frozen Lemonade reaches nationwide Target launch
Target shoppers will soon find a Got to Be NC product on shelves nationwide. Scoot Frozen Lemonade, launched in 2022 as a brand of Mary Mack’s by Gary Mac Herring, will launch in Target stores across the country mid-April. This debut marks a major milestone for the Sampson County-based company. Herring was 19 when he began mixing syrups in his mother’s kitchen for a roadside Hawaiian shaved ice stand. Customers quickly began purchasing extra syrup to enjoy at home, leading him to create household shaved ice machines and syrup. His entrepreneurial spirit later led to Scoot Frozen Lemonade, a premium frozen treat packaged in a convenient, resealable pouch. ...
(Washington) Tidewater Research Station: advancing Agriculture on North Carolina’s eastern edge
In Washington County east of Plymouth, the Tidewater Research Station is part of a unique place in North Carolina’s agricultural research landscape. As the easternmost of the state’s 18 research stations operated by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Tidewater provides a research platform unlike anywhere else in the state. It is indeed a fine example of the diverse geography and climate found across the state’s various locations for research stations. The Tidewater Research Station was established in 1943, replacing the earlier Blackland Test Farm near Wenona that was established in 1912. The station now encompasses roughly 1,550 acres, including cropland, pasture, woodland, ponds and research facilities. …
(Wayne) Celebrating 100 years of pickles
For many people across the United States, when they hear the world pickle they think Mt. Olive Pickle Company, and rightfully so. Currently celebrating its 100-year anniversary, Mt. Olive Pickle Company is a staple in the Mount Olive landscape, as well as on tables across the United States. From dill, sweet and spicy pickles to pickled veggies and relish, the Mt. Olive Pickle team works hard every year to produce delicious and unique products from farm fresh ingredients. In the early 1900’s, the town of Mount Olive was a small player in a big agriculture industry. Historically, cucumbers have played a big role on North Carolina farms as a rotational crop with tobacco. Due to our state’s sandy soil and climate, cucumbers have always grown well here and given farmers a way to diversify their operations.
(Wilson) Life is sweeter for the Sullivans
For Scott and Katie Sullivan, love didn’t just grow in fields, it started with Scott’s cabbage crop. The couple operates Sullivan Farms Inc., a fifth-generation family farm in Lucama. Their operation spans about 4,000 acres of tobacco, sweet potatoes, cotton, soybeans, wheat, corn, peas, lima beans and sweet corn. In 2023, they purchased Mid-State Produce, a sweet potato packing facility that allowed them to expand their footprint in the industry. But their love story began long before they shared a business together. “We actually grew up in the same area, but Scott was a bit older,” Katie said. “When I was in college, I had a summer job at a local packing shed working with cabbage. I had to fill out tickets for growers when they delivered the cabbage, and Scott was a grower. Truth be told, he grew some of the best cabbage, and that was a big selling point for me,” she added with a laugh. ...
Piedmont
(Alamance) From breaking world records to spicing up the kitchen, Luffas are taking a spotlight in N.C. agriculture
Have you ever used a luffa in the shower or bathtub? You know, the little scrubby thing that comes in a variety of sizes and colors? Well, did you know that it actually comes from a plant grown right here in North Carolina, as well as other parts of the world? A luffa is a vining plant that can be used in the kitchen directly after harvest, or in the shower once overripened. In other parts of the world, like China, luffas are a staple commodity, much like cabbage or lettuce in our state. In 2020, Lisa Xu moved from China to North Carolina with her family and started a home garden to grow her own vegetables. Coming from China, luffas were a must have vegetable in the garden. “Luffas are hard to find in North Carolina, especially ones that are fresh and in-season,” she said. “My family and I eat a lot of them, so growing them at home was a no-brainer.” In addition to five luffa varieties, Lisa and her family grow both summer and winter vegetables, including cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, kale, chard and bok choy. ...
(Alamance) Wheat plays a major role in our state’s history and our diets at Lindley Mills
Did you know that wheat is a staple we eat every single day, often multiple times a day? In fact, wheat flour makes up a majority of the calories we consume. Lindley Mills in Graham has been working with North Carolina farmers for 10 generations to produce organic flour products for bakeries, grocery stores, and consumers across the country. Their process honors the history and legacy of wheat in our state, while their products showcase as much local wheat as possible and feed thousands every day. Lindley Mills was established in 1755 by Thomas Lindley, a Pennsylvania Quaker who moved to North Carolina. ...
(Davidson) A new generation of wheat farmers
Wheat has been grown on farms across our state for many years, but that doesn’t diminish its importance on the farm today. First-generation farmer Will Brinkley, owner of Double S Farm in Lexington, has always seen wheat as a valuable crop to our state’s agriculture industry and is honored to continue its legacy on his farm. Will Brinkley grew up surrounded by agriculture but not immersed in it. “My father worked for R.J. Reynolds for many years, so we knew a lot about agriculture but didn’t operate a family farm,” he said. “However, from the time I first rode a tractor, I’ve known that I wanted to be a farmer.” In 2009, Will and his wife, Madison, established Double S Farm on family land with corn as their first crop. “We started off with three acres of corn and a one-row planter,” Will said. Today, they farm several hundred acres of land, producing corn, wheat and soybeans each year. “We started growing wheat in 2019 as a solid rotational crop for our corn and soybeans,” Will said. “It’s a very versatile crop that is relatively easy to produce.” Double S Farms produces 50 acres of wheat each year that is used in a variety of ways throughout the community. ...
(Franklin) Over 200 years of wheat production at Wester Farms
For over 200 years, the Wester family has been producing wheat, and other crops, in Louisburg. As a legacy crop in our state’s agriculture industry, wheat plays an important role for consumers, farmers and food producers across the globe. As a fourth-generation farmer, Natalie Wester Farmer has a strong passion for agriculture that was rooted in her at a young age. “Growing up on the farm, I was always passionate about agriculture and livestock,” she said. “Agriculture was always a passion for me. My dad and I would spend lots of time together raising animals for me to show at competitions across the state, so I learned a lot from both him and my grandfather.” Since 1779, Wester Farms has produced a variety of crops, including wheat, tobacco, cotton, corn and soybeans. ...
(Moore) Strawberry season nears as agronomists help growers with tissue sampling to boost berry production
The countdown is on to strawberry season with farmers working hard to protect the emerging blossoms and berries from cold nights that always follow what has come to be known as “false spring” in North Carolina. Jonathan Godfrey, who grows over a half-acre of organic strawberries with his dad and brother at Olde Carthage Farm in Moore County, anticipates berries being ready for first picking around the first full week of April. The farm also offers organic cut flowers, blueberries and grapes seasonally during the year. But right now it’s about to be strawberry season, so nestled under rows of protective low plastic tunnels, plants are already heavy with green strawberries and the white blooms of strawberries to come. Organic production means Godfrey and his family do some things a bit differently than conventional strawberry farmers but protecting them from a cold snap is a universal concern among growers this time of year. ...
(Person) Adventuring into medicinal herbs at Wild Aster Farm
Medicinal herbs are a major player in our state’s agriculture industry. Did you know that you can learn to grow them in your own home or garden? In fact, Brian and Melissa English, owners of Wild Aster Farm in Hurdle Mills, have recently shifted their business model from growing and producing medicinal herbs to focusing on agritourism and education to help customers across the state learn how to produce their own medicinal herbs for themselves and their families. Customers of their farm can learn about a variety of herbs such as yarrow flowers, catnip, comfrey leaves, goldenrod and more. Growing up surrounded by agriculture, Melissa English always had a deep appreciation for farming. “My dad grew up on a tobacco farm in Eastern NC, so we visited the homeplace a lot when I was growing up,” she said. “My family history instilled a great appreciation for all types of agriculture, but I always had a soft spot for animals.” ...
(Stanly) Preserving a legacy and producing soybeans at Sunnybrook Farm
Whether you grow up on a farm or marry into one, agriculture has a way of getting into your blood and sparking a passion. Jamie Carrick, co-owner of Sunnybrook Farms, didn’t grow up in the agriculture industry, but fell in love with it after marrying a farmer’s daughter. Today, farming is the honor of his life as he grows cotton, soybeans, corn, wheat and raises beef cattle alongside his family at Sunnybrook Farm in Richfield. Sunnybrook Farm has been under family operation for over seven generations with Jamie’s wife, Jennifer Carrick, being the seventh generation, and their son Tanner, the eighth. “This farmland has been in the Brooks family since before the Civil War,” said Jamie. “It was named Sunnybrook Farm in 1938 after Jennifer’s grandfather, Spurgeon Brooks, who was a pioneer in the dairy industry for N.C. agriculture. ...
(Union) The two big ways N.C. wheat feeds us
When North Carolinians drive past a field of golden wheat in late spring or early summer, they may not think much about where that crop is headed next. In fact, many people may not realize just how much wheat is grown in North Carolina — or how it’s used once it leaves the farm. According to Cameron Simpson, a third-generation row crop farmer in Union County and president of the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association, the answer may surprise some people. “Right now, about 80 percent of the wheat grown in North Carolina goes into what we refer to as feed wheat,” Simpson said. “So it’s going to go feed turkeys, hogs — mostly hogs — and some poultry rations also.” That means most wheat grown in the state ultimately helps support North Carolina’s large livestock and poultry industries. The grain becomes an ingredient in feed rations for animals that are raised across the state. ...
(Wake) Turning cucumbers into pickles: canning tips to keep your foods safe
Canning and home food preservation has made a big comeback in recent years, particularly as many people have begun gardening and growing their own fruits and vegetables. While putting up garden produce for the winter months was a necessity for many families several generations ago, today canning is more of a delicious hobby. At the N.C. State Fair, entries of canned goods continue to draw a lot of competitors, making it a popular contest for experienced canners and those new to canning. Pickles, jams, jellies and salsas are among the popular entries. NC State Professor Dr. Ben Chapman holds canned goods that are entered at the N.C. State Fair. Chapman leads a team of food science students in checking canned products for safe processing methods.The good news is anyone can learn to can safely by following a few basic principles and North Carolina has a lot of resources through local cooperative extension offices for those who are new to canning, said Ben Chapman, head of the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at NC State University and director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program. ...
(Wake) A love story rooted in agriculture
A strong love, just like most crops, must have strong roots. Austin and Christina Wrenn, owners of Wrenn’s Farm in Zebulon, fell in love with agriculture at young ages. With childhoods steeped in agriculture, both Austin and Christina knew they wanted to spend their lives working in the industry. Some may say it’s even what brought them together and ignited their love story. Wrenn’s Farm has been in Austin’s family for over four generations. “I grew up on the farm and worked here through my high school years,” he said. “I’ve always had a strong love for agriculture and known I wanted to be a farmer.” ...
Western
NCDA&CS program receives grant to continue Helene recovery work
A program within the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is expanding its work in western North Carolina thanks to new federal funding tied to Hurricane Helene recovery. In North Carolina, these 38 counties and the Cherokee tribal area were designated disaster areas after Helene. The funding comes through a larger $61 million grant awarded to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support hazardous waste, recycling and debris cleanup efforts following the storm. As part of that effort, NCDA&CS received a $4.3 million subaward to support pesticide collection and disposal work led by the department’s Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (PDAP).
(Ashe) High elevation, high impact: Inside North Carolina’s Upper Mountain Research Station
Perched more than 3,200 feet above sea level in Ashe County, the Upper Mountain Research Station occupies a place unlike any other in North Carolina’s statewide research network. As the highest-elevation station operated by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Upper Mountain provides a climate, growing conditions, and research environment that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere in the state. Established in 1944, the 454-acre station plays a critical role in advancing agricultural research in the mountains while also generating insights that benefit farmers across North Carolina. From Christmas trees and livestock to pumpkins, turfgrass and even aquatic weed research, the work happening at the Upper Mountain Research Station reflects both the diversity and the purpose of the state’s research station system. ...
(Henderson) Expanding hops research for the N.C. Specialty Crop industry
Over the last decade, hops have been a buzzword across the agriculture industry as farmers and research stations alike seek to grow them domestically. Historically, hops have been grown in the northern parts of our country, including Washington and Oregon. As the “drink local” movement began to spread across our state, however, North Carolina farmers began to look for ways to produce local hops. In 2009, Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Science at N.C. State University, started the Hops Project to explore the possibility of hops as a specialty crop for farmers, researchers and local businesses. ...
(Henderson) Expanding N.C. Agriculture at Carolina Truffières
Truffles are a unique and diverse specialty crop in our state that have been researched on farms over the past few years. We aren’t talking about the sweet chocolate treats. These truffles are grown on the roots of trees and resemble mushrooms in a variety of fashions. Father and son duo Brian and Davis Upchurch have been producing truffle trees and truffles for over 10 years at their farm in Fletcher and continue to learn something new every day! In 2015, Brian and Davis Upchurch established Carolina Truffières by planting their first orchard at their home in Fletcher. “My family comes from an ornamental horticulture background, with my dad working in the industry and running our previous family business for over 20 years,” Davis said. “When that business sold in 2008, we kept all the farmland and began researching what to do with it that would diversify the industry and make use of our land.” Throughout his childhood, Davis travelled with his father to many countries overseas, including Japan, Europe and Asia, to learn about truffle production and harvest. “Truffles are a part of their culture overseas, especially in Europe, and have been for a very long time,” Davis said. “Not only do they have a plethora of knowledge on how to produce them on a commercial scale, but also how to use them in the kitchen.” ...