Ag Summit Set for November 30

Are you interested in starting a food-based business, selling locally at a farmer’s market, or offering agritourism at an existing farm? Would you like to explore new revenue streams from farm crop waste or growing industrial hemp?

These topics and more will be addressed by local and regional agriculture experts during the N.E.W. Business of Agriculture: Regional Opportunities for Growth in Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson Counties. The summit is set for November 30 at Wilson Community College in the Frank L. Eagles Community Business Center.

This is a free event that will provide up-to-date information and resources for food and farming businesses in the region.

Keynote speaker Debbie Hamrick, who works with the NC Farm Bureau Federation, will share insights on “The Future of Agriculture in Eastern NC.”

Other speakers and panelists include:

• Dr. Angela Post, sharing recent hemp trial results from the NCSU Rocky Mt. Research Station
• Sandy Kronick, CEO of Eastern Carolina Organics, sharing the market potential of organic crops in the region
• Thomas Joyner from Nash Produce speaking about regional opportunities in the row crop vegetable market
• Minoo Mehrotra, NCDA Technical Trainer, discussing value-added food production from a home or commercial kitchen
• Annette Dunlap, NCDA Food Business Specialist, discussing opportunities and resources to sell beyond traditional grocery stores

During lunch, participants will hear about a local food manufacturing project followed by an update on area local food councils and a discussion with successful growers, buyers, and distributors.

The summit is a collaboration between the Small Business Center directors at Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson community colleges; North Carolina Growing Together Project/Center for Environmental Farming Systems at NCSU; Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments; Self Help Credit Union; and The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

NC Cooperative Extension directors from all three counties will be present to facilitate and offer their services to attendees.

The Wilson Community College Culinary program will serve a lunch sourced from local and regional producers.

The summit begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. Please register by November 21 to assure your spot, as space is limited.

For questions, contact Melissa Evans, SBC director at Wilson Community College, at 246-1232, or Lisa Morgan, SBC administrative assistant, at 246-1209.