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Business Clusters |
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Opportunities in Agricultural and Food Products Manufacturing and Processing. |
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The Eastern Region is well known globally as a major agricultural production
area. According to NC Department of Agriculture statistics,
North Carolina ranks 1st nationally in the production of sweet potatoes,
and 2nd for hogs, pigs, and turkeys. The state ranks 3rd overall for
cucumbers sold for pickles, trout sold, and poultry and egg products
cash receipts. |
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Much of the state’s production in hogs, turkeys and other poultry is centered
in and around the Eastern Region. There are more than 160 facilities
within the Region involved in food manufacturing. Total employment
in the food industry sector approaches 18,000 people, or 5% of the total
workforce: |
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• 7,500 in pork and poultry slaughtering
• 5,000 in food-related wholesaling and distribution
• 2,900 in commercial bakeries
• 600 in seafood processing |
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Major food processing employers in the Region include many nationally and internationally recognized companies such as Mt. Olive Pickles, Carolina Turkeys, The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, and Sara Lee Bakeries. |
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Many locales throughout the Region can provide exceptional amounts of
water and sewer capacity, enough to accommodate large processing
operations. |
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The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has four
research farms located within the Eastern Region (as well as others
across the state) that can assist with research on specific agricultural
commodities. |
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• Lower Coastal Plain/Cunningham Research Station
• Cherry Research Farm
• Caswell Research Farm
• Upper Coastal Plain Research Station |
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North Carolina State University has research capabilities available to
companies through their Cooperative Extension Services, and also
through their Seafood Laboratory located in Morehead City within the
NCSU Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST). |
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There are more 400 trucking and warehousing firms in the Region that
already service the existing food product manufacturing and distribution
sectors. |
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