N.C. MarketReady Newsletter
May/June 2010
N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Helps N.C. MarketReady Expand “The Produce Lady” Effort
- Team Member Awards
- N.C. Rural Economic Development Center Grant Supports Fresh Produce Safety Program
- New Resources @ www.ncmarketready.org
N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Helps N.C. MarketReady Expand “The Produce Lady” Effort
N.C. MarketReady was awarded $91,937 from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to expand its popular Produce Lady program. The grant, focused on strengthening markets for farmers and educating consumers, provides funding through 2012.
The Produce Lady program is the brainchild of Leah Chester-Davis, coordinator of communications and community outreach for N.C. MarketReady. Chester-Davis serves as director of The Produce Lady effort, along with Brenda Sutton, who is The Produce Lady. Sutton is also director of Cooperative Extension in Rockingham County.
The Produce Lady will serve up new Web resources, healthy cooking demonstrations, an e-newsletter, online videos and printed materials that promote North Carolina fruits and vegetables and the farmers who grow them. According to Chester-Davis, printed materials for Extension clientele will be sent to county Extension centers early next year to coincide with the 2011 spring farmers market season.
“The Produce Lady is all about promoting North Carolina-grown fruits, vegetables and other farm products,” said Chester-Davis. “She has gained quite a following — Brenda does a great job! Many people visit farmers markets just to meet her.”
The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission targets projects for funding that stimulate the agricultural economy in North Carolina communities through sales of local foods. The Produce Lady was a perfect fit according to the Commission’s chairman, Billy Carter.
“The Produce Lady is exceptionally valuable because she speaks directly to consumers and farmers in a way they can relate to,” said Carter. “The Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is excited to work with N.C. MarketReady to support and grow the wonderful resource that is The Produce Lady.” — By Justin Moore
James L. Oblinger Joins Faculty at N.C. Research Campus
James L. Oblinger, Ph.D., former chancellor of N.C. State University, has joined the University’s team at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis. In January, Oblinger began working with the Plants for Human Health Institute, a research effort, and N.C. MarketReady, a Cooperative Extension program.
“Dr. Oblinger brings a unique combination of qualities that will benefit the campus,” says Johnny Wynne, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “He has a technical background in food science and microbiology along with a wealth of knowledge about North Carolina, its educational system and the agricultural
and life sciences industries. He also has insight into our vision for the research campus. He was one of the University of North Carolina system administrators who worked with David H. Murdock, the owner of Dole Foods, when plans for the campus began..”
Among his responsibilities will be working with the N.C. MarketReady team, which includes value-added and alternative agriculture. A microbiologist by training, Oblinger will be involved in the team’s statewide fresh produce safety efforts. By offering educational programs to the entire supply chain — producers, packers, shippers, processors, wholesalers, retailers and consumers — the N.C. MarketReady team works to minimize food safety risks. This includes helping to develop a strong infrastructure among educational institutions, regulatory agencies and the agricultural and food industries. Oblinger will develop a distance education course on food safety and the consumer.
Oblinger, a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, also will work with the N.C. State University team at the research campus to build partnerships with other academic institutions and corporate and government partners to strengthen North Carolina’s economy.
His work with the Plants for Human Health Institute will support
faculty efforts to recruit and mentor graduate students and undergraduate interns. Continuing his commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, Oblinger plans to help strengthen statewide educational programs by identifying
and facilitating contacts between faculty and K-12 teachers and others.
During his 24-year tenure at N.C. State University, Oblinger served as chancellor from 2005 to June 2009 and as provost from 2003 to 2004. Before being named provost, he served as dean and executive director for agricultural programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) from 1997 to 2003. He was associate dean and director of academic programs for CALS from 1986 to 1997.
Team Member Awards
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) recently recognized Dr. Blake Brown and Diane Ducharme of the N.C. MarketReady program for achievements in their respective
areas.
Brown received the 2010 Faculty Resource Development Award, which recognizes one faculty member annually who exhibits outstanding efforts in raising external funding. Brown was acknowledged for securing $1.4 million in grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant program, specifically, as well as his role with the N.C. MarketReady program, which raised more than $2.2 million in funding in 2009.
Diane Ducharme, Extension associate, horticulture and food safety, and GAPs program coordinator, received a 2010 Award for Excellence. The award, presented annually to 30 SPA and 18 EPA employees from the 18 University units/colleges, recognizes
excellence in the areas of outstanding service, innovations,
public service, safety/heroism and human relations.
N.C. Rural Economic Development Center Grant Supports Fresh Produce Safety Program
N.C. MarketReady and the N.C. Fresh Produce Safety Task Force have received a $35,000 grant from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center for a collaborative project. “Implementing Risk Management Tools in On-Farm Food Safety Programs,” will assess risk management tools available for microbial testing and postharvest handling that can be used by growers in their fresh produce safety efforts.
The grant also will support the development of customized risk management resource materials, which will include or address implementation tools, monitoring procedures, data collection, management decision options and validation techniques. These tools will be provided to growers during six regional one-day workshops next year.
According to N.C. MarketReady’s Diane Ducharme, GAPs program coordinator and Extension associate in horticulture and food safety, this grant complements the Tier 2 training of the N.C. MarketReady Fresh Produce Safety — Field to Family Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) curriculum.
The N.C. Research Campus faculty members — through N.C. MarketReady and the Plants for Human Health Institute — who are involved in the effort are Ducharme, Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie and Dr. James Oblinger. Other N.C. State faculty are Dr. Ben Chapman, Dr. Chris Gunter, Dr. Trevor Phister and Dr. Chip Simmons. Dr. Ipek Goktepe, with N.C. A&T State University, will also participate.
New Resources @ www.ncmarketready.org
• The Fresh Produce Safety Portal is new to
www.ncmarketready.org. The portal now includes the resources
that were available at www.ncfreshproducesafety.org.
• The Tomato Growers Information Portal features N.C. State University production resources for both greenhouse and field-grown tomatoes, including materials on economics,
energy management and specialized equipment. Growers will find resources on marketing, food safety, integrated pest management, industry events and risk management specific to N.C. tomato production. Find the tab to the Growers Information Portals on the left-hand bar on the home page.
• The Marketing Communications section includes information
on crisis communications, media relations and neighbor relations. In addition to N.C. State University resources, we link to resources from Cornell, Penn State and the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. We also include materials from a recent Crisis Preparedness Training presented by N.C. MarketReady in cooperation with the N.C. Fresh Produce Safety Task Force.
