this just in...

*North Carolina agriculture gets the spotlight on UNC-TV  9:30 pm April 29
*
RALEIGH -- North Carolina's transition from primarily a tobacco-state to a
more diverse, yet profitable, agricultural state will be explored on UNC-TV
April 29 at 9:30 p.m. North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest will
highlight the role farmers markets, community-supported agriculture
programs, agritourism, roadside stands and pick-your-own farms are playing
in the state's new agricultural economic structure.

In the half-hour special, reporter Rick Sullivan takes viewers to locations
across North Carolina to explore these direct-to-consumer efforts. A second
special will highlight cold-season commodities later this year. The two-part
series is being broadcast to increase consumer awareness of the availability
of North Carolina farm products and how to source them through
www.ncfarmfresh.com.

"I hope this special gets people thinking more about local foods and the
important role that agriculture plays in our state's economy," said
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "We are proud of our diversity and
the access that N.C. residents have to wholesome, safe and fresh produce."

Agriculture and agribusiness represent the state's leading industry,
contributing more than $70 billion to the economy. This program is a
cooperative project between UNC-TV and the N.C. Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services, and was made possible with funding by the N.C.
Tobacco Trust Fund.

For more information about the program, visit www.unctv.org/ncfarmfresh/.

*North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest Premieres Thursday, April 29, at
9:30 pm!
*
*Got To Be NC
*Over the past several decades, North Carolina has continued to diversify
its strong agricultural economy, transitioning from a reliance on its
traditional, tobacco-based system to a more varied economic structure in
which farmers rely more and more on specialty crops and other
non-traditional productsincluding locally-grown fruits, vegetables,
Christmas trees, ornamental plants, flowers, and herbswhile also marketing
these products directly to consumers.
North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest highlights that transition and the
Tar Heel state's prolific direct-to-consumer farm marketing systems,
including the role of farmer's markets, community-supported agriculture, and
agritourism in determining where goodness truly grows in North Carolina this
spring. The UNC-TV original production premieres Thursday, April 29, at 9:30
PM.

For this half-hour special, UNC-TV's Rick Sullivan traveled the length of
the state to spotlight five different methods North Carolina farmers are
using to market their goods directly to consumers. "I've spent a year
covering the state with visits to interesting locations and meeting a lot of
pretty impressive folks who are finding new ways to earn their living from
the soil," says Sullivan. "Now, more than ever, I'm thoughtfully considering
every food product I bring home to my kitchen."

North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest spotlights a variety of food
production and distribution methods, including:

*Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)*: In this cooperative system,
consumers themselves invest in local farms by paying in advance for produce
the farmer agrees to deliver at a later date.  In essence, these consumers
are crop "subscribers," whose investments allow farmers to buy seed and pay
farming expensesall before they incur them. At harvest time, subscribers
receive weekly boxes of select fresh produce. North Carolina Farm Fresh:
Spring Harvest visits Hilltop Farms in Willow Spring, NC, to highlight their
CSA successes.

*Roadside Stands*: If you've lived in North Carolina any amount of time, you
know that many farmers sell their produce directly to consumers via stands
on or near their properties.  Roadside stands can be as simple as a
handwritten yard sign stating, "Peaches, $3 a bushelKnock on Our Front
Door;" or, in the alternative, these "stands" can be very elaborate
destinations such as Ken Chappell Peaches in Montgomery County, NC. During
the program, you'll meet Ken Chappell, a third generation peach grower with
a convenient roadside business, brimming with fresh peaches and other
seasonal goods.

*Farmer's Markets*: With literally hundreds of locations across the state at
which farmers can come together to meet consumers in a central place, North
Carolina farmer's markets can range from small operations constituting
several pickup trucks pulled together, to a large compound like those found
at our official State Farmer's Markets. This special features the Asheboro
Farmer's Market, where a new facility is helping to create a more vital and
vibrant downtown. Along the way, you'll also visit the Duke Farmer's Market,
a private market that brings farmers right to customer's doorsteps.

"*Pick Your Owns*:" There are some crops that are best operated as "Pick
Your Owns" or "PYO's," allowing consumers the unique opportunity to pick and
choose their own produce while providing a more cost-effective alternative
for farmers.  In this program, we travel to Smith Nurseries in Benson, NC,
where farmer Myron Smith is happy to let others harvest the fruits of his
(and their) labor for a fee.

*Agritourism*: Some North Carolina farms attempt to attract tourists as a
means of staying financially viable.  Of these, some are working farms that
invite visitors to "view and do" farm activities at a cost; others don't
charge, allowing tourist exposure to pay off in other ways. North Carolina
Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest features one such agritourism locale: Mountain
Farm in Burnsville, NChome to farm animals, lavender, a nice place to rent
for the night, and a breathtaking mountain top view.
Don't miss an informative local look at all of these growing ventures during
North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest, Thursday, April 29, at 9:30 PM,
only on UNC-TV.

*North Carolina Farm Fresh*: Spring Harvest is a production of UNC-TV in
association with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Funding for
North Carolina Farm Fresh: Spring Harvest was provided by the North Carolina
Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The program is the first installment of a
two-part series chronicling our state's prolific direct-to-consumer farm
marketing systems.  A second special, North Carolina Farm Fresh: Fall
Harvest, will premiere later this year.

Richard C. Reich, Ph.D.
Assistant Commissioner

North Carolina Department of
Agriculture & Consumer Services
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1001
Phone: (919) 733-7125, ext. 224
Fax: (919) 733-1141
Richard.Re...@ncagr.gov

http://www.ncagr.com
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Carteret Local Food Network" group.
To post to this group, send email to carteret-local-food-network@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to carteret-local-food-network+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/carteret-local-food-network?hl=en.