Founding Funders

Jun 22, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Vegetable Growers’ Association

The North Carolina Vegetable Growers' Association started in 1977 to improve and promote the state’s vegetable industry. With more than 2,000 commercial vegetable grower members, they advocate for the industry and work to help make it more sustainable and profitable. With their longstanding relationship with NC State and Extension, they became early supporters of the N.C. PSI. 

Jun 22, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Herb Association  

Medicinal and culinary herbs are beautiful, easy to grow and are a large commodity in North Carolina. The North Carolina Herb Association (NCHA) represents herb farmers, business owners, commercial producers, and enthusiasts and exists to help share knowledge of how to identify, grow, use, respect, study, and celebrate herbs of all kinds. It’s that work that led them to become early supporters of N.C. PSI. 

Jun 22, 2021

Partner Profile: Carolina Feed Industry Association

Animals are an essential part of North Carolina’s agriculture and economy, and providing nutritious feeds that nourish them--and ensure the meat they produce is healthy and safe to consume, is a key focus for the Carolina Feed Industry Association. It’s also why they support the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative. 

Jun 22, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association

As our cities continue to grow, members of the green industry are mindful of the stress the growth puts on our natural resources and are driven to grow in a sustainable way. The North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association is an avid advocate for the green industry, ensuring that floriculture, nursery and greenhouse crops are a part of sustainable landscaping. As part of these efforts, they became early supporters of the N.C. PSI. 

Jun 22, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Watermelon Association

Juicy, sweet watermelon is almost synonymous with North Carolina summers. The North Carolina Watermelon Association represents growers, shippers, buyers, seed companies and others associated with watermelon production, and has a vested interest in helping farmers and all associated with producing a healthy crop of the fruit. That’s why they were early supporters of the N.C. PSI. 

Jun 14, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Cotton Producers Association

Cotton is a major cash crop for North Carolina, accounting for close to $300 million of the state’s economy and 15,000 jobs. The North Carolina Cotton Producers Association strives to improve the welfare of cotton farmers by supporting best practices for production and encouraging research to better cotton and its products. That’s a key reason why they became an early supporter of N.C. PSI. 

May 3, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Farm Bureau

From its inception, the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI) was a top priority for North Carolina Farm Bureau. In fact, Farm Bureau’s advocacy helped secure N.C. PSI’s inclusion in the Connect NC Bond Referendum and their financial support made possible the initiative’s Launch Director, and a world-class agricultural research and Extension education space.   

May 3, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Forage and Grassland Council

Forages and grasslands are an integral part of agriculture in North Carolina. Hay, grasses and other cover crops provide nutritious feed for livestock, help maintain healthy soils and play a vital role in water conservation. The North Carolina Forage and Grassland Council (NCFGC) joins grassland managers, livestock owners, agribusiness, public servants and interested citizens to support the effective use of North Carolina's grassland resources and support forage research. That’s why they became early supporters of the North Carolina Plant Science Initiative (N.C. PSI). 

May 3, 2021

Partner Profile: Fair Products, Inc.

Fair Products, Inc. manufactures and distributes a versatile group of tobacco crop care products to help farmers produce the healthiest, most resilient tobacco. Frank Grainger, founder and owner of the company, tells us it’s that focus on innovation that led Fair Products to become a founding funder of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI). 

May 3, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Fisheries Association

The North Carolina wild-caught seafood industry contributes nearly $300 million in value and 5,500 jobs to the state’s economy. The North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. (NCFA) advocates for sustainable fisheries, preserve fishing heritage and promote wild-caught North Carolina seafood. One of the tenets of NCFA is a strong commitment to food production, which propelled them to sign on as a founding funder of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative (N.C. PSI).