9/12/2015
SUPPORTING AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA Ron Fish Agribusiness Development NCDA & CS 9/12/2015
Goal: To increase the profitability of family farms through support for value-added agricultural enterprises. Direct assistance through: Client consultations Financial and technical resources Identification of infrastructure support Intra-Agency cooperation
Successful Projects Blue Ridge Food Ventures, Buncombe Co. Foothills Pilot Plant, McDowell Co. Natural Blends Vegetable Dehydration, Pitt Co. Sanderson Farms, Poultry Plant, Lenoir & Robeson Co. Stamey Farms, Ice Cream & Yogurt, Iredell Co. Piedmont Custom Meats, Caswell Co.
INCREASING WEALTH THROUGH VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION Farm Cash Receipts (2012)$11.7 billion Agribusiness Industry (2012) $78 billion Value-Added Portion $66.3 billion 9/12/2015
GROWTH SECTORS Food & Beverage Processing Exports Agricultural Biotechnology Produce Specialty Meats Biofuels and BioEnergy 9/12/2015
SUPPORTING VALUE-ADDED Infrastructure Development (co-packers, highways, ports, natural gas, etc…) Production Assistance (research & education) Marketing Assistance (GTBNC programs) Investment Capital (loans & venture funds) Incentives (tax credits, grants, etc…) 9/12/2015
NCDA & CS RESOURCES State Operated Farmers Markets Horticultural Marketing Specialist Livestock Marketing Specialist Agritourism Office Aquaculture Consultants “Got To Be NC” Marketing Programs Food and Drug Protection Division Meat and Poultry Inspection Division Agribusiness Development International Marketing Regional Agronomists 9/12/2015
AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Ron Fish – Assistant Director, Agribusiness Development, Annette Dunlap – General Agribusiness, Eastern NC, Annie Baggett -Agritourism, Debra Sloan - Agribusiness/Aquaculture, Western NC, Pete Anderson - Agribusiness/Aquaculture, Eastern, NC, Bob Grooms – General Agribusiness, Western NC, /12/2015