About
Our Team Members
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Jonathan Baros, Farm & Agribusiness Management, develops and sustains programs that help N.C. agricultural producers explore efficient economic options and optimize profits for their farming operations. His focus is working with fruit and vegetable producers. He is charged with evaluating economic components involved in compliance with food safety rules; examining economics options for initiating cooling and postharvest handling programs in fruits and vegetables; assessing value-added and alternative enterprise opportunities in the traditional horticultural area; and developing cost-and-return estimates for traditional horticultural crops. Contact Jonathan: jonathan_baros@ncsu.edu or 704-250-5458 |
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Leah Chester-Davis is director of communications for the Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), including N.C. MarketReady, the Cooperative Extension outreach of PHHI. She provides leadership in strategic marketing communications. She coordinates The Produce Lady program, which focuses on farmer and consumer education to help increase consumption of N.C. fruits, vegetables and other farm products. Previously, as an Extension communication specialist, she founded Extension’s Successful Gardener program, including its award-winning newsletter. The newsletter has been packaged into “The Successful Gardener Guide,” a book released in March 2011 by Blair Publisher. Contact Leah: leah_chester-davis@ncsu.edu or 704-250-5406 |
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Diane Ducharme, GAPs Program Coordinator and Extension Associate in Horticulture & Food Safety, serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team from horticulture, plant pathology, family and consumer sciences, food science, economics and communications to address fresh produce production, harvest and marketing issues. She shares leadership of developing and delivering comprehensive and coordinated educational programs focused on fresh produce, food safety production and marketing. Prior to her current position, Diane was a Cooperative Extension agent in commercial horticulture in western North Carolina. Contact Diane: diane_ducharme@ncsu.edu or 704-250-5402 |
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Rod Gurganus, Extension Associate, serves as team leader of the N.C. MarketReady program. He specializes in entrepreneurial horticulture and represents the team in eastern North Carolina. He works with agribusinesses, economic development officials and farmers to identify and develop opportunities for value-added and innovative agriculture. Prior to his current position, Rod was a Cooperative Extension agent in Beaufort County, with commercial and consumer horticulture responsibilities. During that time he established an Extension Master Gardener program, a regional pesticide container recycling program and served as pesticide coordinator for the county while finishing a graduate degree in crop science. Contact Rod: rod_gurganus@ncsu.edu or 252-793-4428 ext. 129 |
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James L. Oblinger, Ph.D, Professor, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, has expertise in food safety as well as administration of transdisciplinary research, teaching and extension in agriculture and the life sciences. He works with fresh produce safety education across the spectrum from the farm to the consumer. His longstanding commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education will foster partnerships with K-12 teachers and others. Contact James: james_oblinger@ncsu.edu or 704-250-5447 |
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Brittany Whitmire, Coordinator, N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program (NCVACS). She provides leadership for the development and implementation of NCVACS, which is funded by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission as an initiative through 2011. NCVACS is designed specifically to complement the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) and to help increase the success rate of N.C. producers that apply for the VAPG. Brittany helps facilitate grant writing and feasibility study assistance for NCVACS recipients through training and development. Contact Brittany: brittany_whitmire@ncsu.edu or 919-830-9557 |
Find Growers Information Portals, the N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program and other extension materials.
Growers Information Portals
Visit these one-stop shops to find materials specific to North Carolina production of certain crops.
The Produce Lady
Faculty House
Make a reservation and enjoy convenient lodging at the N.C. Research Campus.
Pathway to Excellence
Donate a custom-engraved brick and become a permanent part of history at the N.C. Research Campus.
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