Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Objective #1, To provide an organic produce industry overview including statewide organic inventories and consumption levels, as well as provide any trends seen within the industry for North Carolina: Outputs included meetings held among investigators, collaborators and other personnel. Two graduate research assistants and one undergraduate research assistant continued on with activities from the second funded year. Students were mentored as literature and data were retrieved and stored for further analysis. A paper submission to the Food Distribution Research Society was accepted and presented in October of 2011 in Portland, Oregon. The undergraduate research assistant conducted a rent distribution analysis of the leading organic produce in the state of North Carolina. Findings revealed that sweet potatoes and tomatoes had a strong presence in the area. Therefore, a study with focus on the contractual relationship between the farmer and the contracting agent was developed and submitted for presentation at the Council for Undergraduate Research in Washington, DC. Outputs for objective #2, To identify established supply chains of the leading organic produce within the state of North Carolina: The 2007 Census of Agriculture data pertaining to organic produce in North Carolina was analyzed and summarized in the form of a paper presentation and paper submission to the Food Distribution Research Society. Outputs for objective #3, To evaluate the economic impact of the organic produce industry in North Carolina: Due to the unexpected additional cost of purchasing data, IMPLAN training will not be conducted. Instead, researchers utilized a cost/benefit model using Microsoft Excel. (See Publications) Outputs for objective #4, To conduct production analyses on the leading organic produced produce in North Carolina: Production analyses are presented in the form of a working paper entitled, "Supply of Organic Produce in North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: One undergraduate student has worked on this project. Two graduate students have assisted with literature review and data mining. However, have decided to select outside these topics for their requirements in fulfilling a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics. We hold a partnership with NC A&T SU Cooperative Extension Program. Their contribution will be to connect findings of the research to interested producers within the state of North Carolina. A compilation of findings will be presented to the Extension Specialist assisting with the project. Contacts obtained during this project - Ms. Sandy Kronick (Eastern Carolina Organics, Pittsboro, NC), Clay Smith (Redbud Farm, Burlington, NC), and Chris Vanderburg (Appalachian State University, Boone, NC). TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audience was small-to-medium scale farmers, state legislators, and citizens of the state of North Carolina. Short term outcomes include: (1) have increased knowledge of organic markets in NC, (2) be knowledgeable about resources related to marketing organic products, (3) be able to identify production and processing regulations, (4) be able to identify career opportunities within the marketing channels, and (5) be able to identify new market opportunities. Mid-term outcomes include: (1) make informed decisions about entering markets for organically produced products, (2) select information that best suits their business from resources contacted, (3) implement process or practice change to regulatory requirements, (4) implement technological changes, (5) research selected market opportunities, and (6) actively apply practical policy and decision-making knowledge. Long-term outcomes include: (1) information on successful market opportunities results in high profitability, (2) increased local sales, (3) increased production and processing of organically produced commodities in the state, (4) expansion of high quality employment opportunities for residents, (5) increased number of successful collaborate ventures in NC, and (6) increased competitiveness of local farms. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In evaluating the overall industry trends in the state, several problems occurred. There were hidden costs associated with the available scanner data purchased through the Perishables Group. The data were truncated by region and by retailers. We were able to access the South Atlantic Sub-region, which includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Unfortunately, we were unable to extract North Carolina from the region. Therefore, our overview is inclusive of the South Atlantic Region. This may lead to better findings in that North Carolina's limited production within the state. Due to these shortcomings, we were unable to develop a forecasting model due to the organization of data (truncated retail data). Therefore, in the final stages of the project, we focused on volume consumed, market shares, and observed trends.
Impacts
The Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education, NC Cooperative Extension Educators, administrative support staff, graduate researchers and an undergraduate researcher worked closely together to conduct a trend analysis of organic and marketing in North Carolina. They also developed a study to evaluate the economic impact and feasibility of organic production in North Carolina. From this, presentations were conducted for an audience of peers to provide sound feedback and direction for the analyses of this project. Findings for the market overview, including statewide organic inventories and consumption trend analyses,were presented. Also, results for identification of established marketing channels of the leading organic produce in NC were presented. Economic impact analyses of organic produce were presented as well. Production analyses on the leading organically produced produce in North Carolina will be ongoing at the time of termination of this project.
Publications
- Robbins, R. & Jefferson-Moore, K. 2012. Supply of Organic Produce in North Carolina. (Working Paper).
- Bowser, J. and Jefferson-Moore, K. 2012. Economic Impact of Leading Organic Produce in North Carolina. Council on Undergraduate Research, 16th Annual Undergraduate Poster Session, Washington, DC (Submission).
- Jefferson-Moore, K., Robbins, R., and Smallwood, A. (2011). Market Potential for Local Organic Produce in the South Atlantic Sub-Region. Annual Meetings of the Food Distribution Research Society, Portland, Oregon, October 15-19, 2011.
- Smallwood, A., Jefferson-Moore, K., and Robbins, R. (2011). Market Potential for Local Organic Produce in the South Atlantic Sub-Region. NC A&T State University, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Research Apprenticeship Program, Poster Presentation, Greensboro, North Carolina, July 22, 2011.
- Bowser, J. and Jefferson-Moore, K. Economic Impact of Leading Organic Produce in North Carolina. NC A&T State University, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Paper Presentation, Greensboro, North Carolina, April 20, 2011.
- Robbins, R. & Jefferson-Moore, K. (2011). Analysis of Organic Foods of the Southeast. 16th ARD Biennial Research Symposium, Atlanta, Georgia, April 9-13, 2011.
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