Value-Added Agriculture
Value-added agriculture grows strong here.
The Eastern Region is internationally recognized as a major agricultural production area. According to NC Department of Agriculture statistics, North Carolina ranks first nationally in the production of sweet potatoes, and second in hogs, pigs, and turkeys. The state ranks 3rd overall for cucumbers sold for pickles, trout sold, and poultry and egg products cash receipts.
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 exceeds 20,000 people, or 5% of the total workforce:
- 7,500 in pork and poultry processing
- 5,000 in food-related wholesaling and distribution
- 2,900 in commercial bakeries
- 600 in seafood processing.
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.
Many locales throughout the Region provide exceptional amounts of water and sewer capacity to accommodate large processing operations.
The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has four research farms located within the Eastern Region (and others across the state) that can assist with research in a broad range of areas of interest to value-added agriculture businesses.
North Carolina State University (NCSU) also makes research capabilities available to companies through its Cooperative Extension Services, and also through the Seafood Laboratory located in Morehead City, which is a part of the NCSU Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST).
And on the logistical front, there are more than 400 trucking and warehousing firms in the region to serve the food product manufacturing and distribution sectors.
East Carolina Food Ventures Incubator Kitchen
Eastern Carolina Food Ventures Incubator Kitchen is a regional, shared-use commercial incubator kitchen designed to help develop food entrepreneurs, create new food businesses, grow existing food businesses, and provide workforce development resulting in new jobs and new economic development in eastern North Carolina.
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