(The Center Square) – Cucumber, peanut, rice, barley and livestock growers in North Carolina are helped by $6.6 million granted through the Agricultural Manufacturing and Processing Initiative.
The program has awarded $19 million and exhausted its 2024 funds with Tuesday’s announcement. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said he’s hopeful the General Assembly will continue to support it and make appropriations accordingly.
Expansion of existing operations is planned for each of six companies.
Mt. Olive Pickles of Duplin County was awarded $3 million for pasteurizer; Sandy Land Peanut of Hertford County was awarded more than $1.3 million for peanut processing; and $750,000 each was awarded to Carolina Malt House of Rowan County for malting barley, and to Phinite of Sampson County for fertilizer manufacturing.
The other two awards were to Harpley’s of Randolph County, $642,000 for meat processing; and Tidewater Grain of Pamlico County, $180,000 for grain storage bins.
“Our farmers and growers need more options close by to process and distribute their products,” Troxler said in a release from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “These NCAMPI products will increase farmer opportunities, reduce their costs, and result in more North Carolina jobs and private investment. I’m appreciative of the confidence the General Assembly placed in the department to administer this new initiative and look forward to continuing support to meet the strong demand and obvious need for the program.”
