Author: Natalie Hampton

Aug 5, 2013

N.C. 10% Campaign records $40 million in local food purchases

In just three years, the N.C. 10% Campaign, which encourages all North Carolinians and businesses to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on locally produced foods, has logged more than $40 million in expenditures. The campaign, which kicked off in July 2010, now counts more than 6,500 individuals and 850 businesses among its supporters. 

Jul 23, 2013

Research Campus launches effort to engage students in science

An unprecedented partnership of academic and industry organizations at the North Carolina Research Campus has launched a groundbreaking $1.5 million program to engage college students from across the state in a first-of-its-kind education and research endeavor. Called the Plant Pathways Elucidation Project (P2EP), the program teams up university scientists, industry leaders and college students to explore how fruits and vegetables benefit human health. 

Jul 23, 2013

Guilford’s Great Tomato Festival offers 33 varieties for tasting

This summer’s tomato season got off to a slow start, with cooler spring temperatures and heavier-than-normal rainfall. But that didn’t stop tomato lovers from turning out for the fourth annual Great Tomato Festival in Greensboro, organized by N.C. Cooperative Extension in Guilford County and N.C. A&T State University. 

Jul 18, 2013

Ag agents receive state, national awards

Seven agricultural agents with North Carolina Cooperative Extension have received awards from the North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents. All of the state winners will be recognized as national winners in September. 

Jul 17, 2013

Extension’s role in alternative energy is subject of WRAL-TV story

On Wednesday, July 17, WRAL-TV featured a story about how three Harnett County farms are working with N.C. Cooperative Extension to develop various on-farm systems of alternative energy. Agent Gary Pierce described how alternative energy benefits farmers. 

Jul 15, 2013

Report: North Carolinians should eat more fruits and vegetables

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that North Carolinians aren't eating enough fruits or vegetables, but a growing number of farmers markets and other projects, some led by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and North Carolina Cooperative Extension, give us a chance to reverse the pattern. 

Jul 12, 2013

PHHI Extension partnership lands $425,000 in grants

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension component of N.C. State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), in partnership with the university’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, has secured more than $400,000 in funding through two major grant programs to assist the state’s growers and agricultural operations in 2013. 

Jul 3, 2013

Faculty/staff garden workday planned for July 10

On Wednesday, July 10, faculty and staff are invited to N.C. State’s Agroecology Education Farm from 8 a.m. until noon to tend crops that are being grown by University Dining for use in campus dining halls. When produce is harvested later this summer, it will be the first time that campus-grown produce is served in campus dining halls. 

Jun 24, 2013

Where there’s smoke, there’s barbecue

During 4-H Congress this year, the outdoor cookery competitions -- which included grilling pork, beef, chicken and turkey -- were held on N.C. State University’s Court of North Carolina, right in the middle of main campus and just a stone’s throw from the university’s bell tower. All morning, the smells of barbecue rolled along Hillsborough Street. 

Jun 20, 2013

State 4-H Congress comes to Raleigh for four days of fun

State 4-H Congress will be in Raleigh June 22-26, attracting 521 youth and their adult leaders for activities including presentations on a variety of subjects, leadership and citizenship training, service opportunities, officer elections and more.