North Carolina Specialty Crops Program |
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Specialty Crops are new crops that have not been commerically grown in a particular region. Ranging from exotic purple potatoes, to more commonly known crops like lettuce, producing specialty crops generally introduces farmers to a new way of growing. The North Carolina Specialty Crops Program provides crop production information, marketing reports and links to articles published online. We are a resource for farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers within the specialty crops market. | ||
EVENTS CALENDARStatewide
and National Events for
Alternative Crops Herbs Organics Specialty Crops Vegetables HOT CROPSBelgian EndiveBob Radcliffe worked closely with Will Strader, Franklin County Horticultural Extension Agent, to develop a 2008 Agent Specialty Crops Proposal to "Grow and Market Belgian Endive Chicons to the Restaurant Trade" that was awarded monies from a statewide pool of $300,000. The goal of this project is to adapt the production of this product to a small-scale farm environment, while evaluating its market potential and profitability. Read more.. Sunnyridge Berry FarmsLooking Forward to
New North Carolina Opportunities Click to review the presentation. Sunnyridge Farms gave this presentation to prospective NC berry growers. (Powerpoint, 17.7K, may take a few minutes to load...please be patient) Click
to review the meeting notes. |
OPPORTUNITIESThe 2009 cycle for the WNC
AgOptions Grant Program have been
announced! SARE
Grants Posted Free
Grant Writing Assistance To obtain assistance, contact Blake Brown, blake_brown@ncsu.edu, (919) 515-4536. To find additional information and to check out current grant opportunities in the value-added and alternative agriculture area go to www.cals.ncsu.edu/value-added SPECIALTY CROPS NEWSLETTERSA new feature of the SCP website, monthly newsletters provide timely information for growers and others interested in new crops. |
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SPECIALTY CROPS
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2008 Vegetable Crop Handbook for the Southeastern US |
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There is a "Berry Team of Specialists" working with growers and Sunny Ridge Farms to facilitate the new production. People interested in learning more about this opportunity or how to grow blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries for Sunny Ridge Farm should call one of these contacts. Click for more berry production info... |
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Farm Prosperity ProjectDr. Jeanine Davis has recently received a 3 year grant from the new USDA National Research Initiative on small farms and rural communities to study farmland preservation techniques and new crop/new agricultural enterprises as a way to enhance small-farm prosperity. This is a cooperative project with Land of Sky Regional Council, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and Warren Wilson College. The Medicinal Herbs for Commerce ProjectThis project aims to provide North Carolina farmers an opportunity to explore the economic feasibility of medicinal herb production. |
ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERJoin the mailing list to receive enewsletters via email. |
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You will need the free Adobe Reader program to view Adobe PDF formatted publications. |
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The Specialty Crops Program is funded in part by: |