"Made in the Triad"

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10% CAMPAIGN PASSES $2 MILLION SPENT FOR LOCAL FOOD

News
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
Nov. 23, 2010
Media Contact: Teisha Wymore, campaign manager, tlwymore@ncsu.edu or 919.515.0244
10% CAMPAIGN PASSES $2 MILLION SPENT FOR LOCAL FOOD
Since July, North Carolinians participating in the 10% Campaign have spent more than $2 million on food from local sources. The 10% Campaign is an effort to educate and encourage consumers to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on locally sourced food.
The campaign is an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, with support from N.C. Cooperative Extension and the Golden LEAF Foundation. Because North Carolinians spent $35 billion on food each year, if just 10 percent went to local sources, more than $3.5 billion would be available in the state’s economy.
"We are excited that the 10% Campaign has reached the $2 million milestone in its first four months. I believe this is a reflection of the true commitment that North Carolina consumers have shown for their own local food systems," said Teisha Wymore, 10% Campaign manager. "As campaign participation grows, the dollars spent on local food also will continue to grow."
"Businesses and individuals have responded enthusiastically to the launch of the 10% Campaign. As all of those businesses begin to report their local food spending, we will see that number continue to grow," said Nancy Creamer, CEFS director and horticultural science professor in the N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "The economic development and job creation potential of this campaign is huge."
Through the campaign website – www.nc10percent.com – North Carolina consumers and businesses sign up and pledge to buy local food. Each week, participants receive a campaign email, asking them to report how much they spent on local food that week. The results are tallied on the campaign website.
More than 1,700 individuals and 161 businesses have signed up for the campaign. The businesses and institutions that have pledged to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on food from local sources include restaurants, grocery stores and co-ops, universities, corporate food service programs and state agencies.
Cooperative Extension is supporting the 10% Campaign by providing an extension agent in each county office to serve as the local food coordinator, providing education and supporting businesses that want to participate in the campaign. N.C. Cooperative Extension is based in N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a program of N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. A&T State University and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The center provides education, outreach and research related to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
-Written by Natalie Hampton, natalie_hampton@ncsu.edu or 919.513.3128.

Poinsettia Display

Melissa has finished setting up the poinsettia display. she put 3 of every variety on the ends of the benches, in groups by color. 67 varieties!!!!!!!!

Ruby Frost

Ruby Frost was a trial Poinsettia last year. It ranked 5th out of 19 in our novelty class, which helped to get it on the market this year. We only had a few last year because it was a trial variety, now that it is on the market, we order alot more cuttings last spring to have them ready for the Christmas season.

National Poinsettia Open House

Save the space on your calendars for our Poinsettia Open House (2010). It will be Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 12:30 to 4:30.We are one of two greenhouses in the state to hold poinsettia trials.

We are growing 9,000 poinsettias and more than 67 varieties. An ocean of color growing in one huge greenhouse! You will enjoy seeing new varieties, voting on your favorites, and free refreshments.

We are one of 33 greenhouses in the U.S. and Canada that grow these trials. The information that we collect will be sent to the national poinsettia breeders to decide which new varieties will be put on the market and which ones will be cut for next year.

Hope to see you there!
Jim, Judy, & Jay Mitchell

Tapestry

We have Tapestry Poinsettias again this year. They are a small short poinsettia with varigated leaves. We sold out quick last year, so if you have you heart set on Tapestry, you will want to get by soon.

Shimmer Pink

Stop by and see the poinsettias if you are in the area. They are beautiful this year. This one is Shimmer Pink. It is the first year we have carried it. It is a pretty dark pink, with light pink speckles.

Chad Tucker w/ Fox 8

Chad Tucker with Fox 8 News came out last night and had us on the 10:00 news. They also replayed it this morning along with some segments they didn't play last night.

http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-story-plant-101115,0,2856921.story

Fall Leaves

Be sure to take advantage of the leaves in your yard. Use them to mulch your garden. As leaves fall, bag them up with your mower or you can use your mower to chop and blow them to the center your your yard to rake them. Your mower chops the leaves, allowing them to compost faster. you can either compost them or use them as mulch in your vegetable and flower gardens.