December 2020 - 38

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
North Carolina initiative grows state's greenhouse industry
By Mollie Rappe
North Carolina State University
Did you know that in 2017,
greenhouse-based growers in North
Carolina produced almost $11.8 million
worth of vegetables?
In fact, half of that was in fresh-market
tomatoes, a crop that North Carolina
State University (NCSU) breeders have
devoted decades to improving.
In honor of NCSU's past support
and continued partnership, the North
Carolina Greenhouse Vegetable Growers'
Association donated $7,000 to the N.C.
Plant Sciences Initiative (NCPSI).
" I think the Plant Sciences Initiative
is going to be humongous in the
future, once we get the building
built, " said Richard Whitaker, the
president of the association and
owner of Whitaker Farms. " There
will be people coming from out of
the country to do research there, and
we will be able to learn from their
research about how we can better
manage our greenhouse operations
and have a better profit. "
The North Carolina Greenhouse
Vegetable Growers' Association
was started in 1972 and has about
Dilip Panthee, center, a tomato breeding expert at Mountain Horticultural Research and
Extension. Photo: North Carolina State University
25 members. Most of the members
manage small family greenhouses that
primarily produce fresh tomatoes. The
association's gift to NCPSI represents
the savings of many years under great
leadership, Whitaker said.
Greenhouse vegetable growers face a
lot of challenges including profitability
and pests. Even weather - especially
cold, cloudy weather - can impact
their bottom line, Whitaker said.
The growers are looking forward to
even more new plant varieties released
by the NCPSI to replace varieties that
are played out, or aren't as productive
as they once were.
Insects and plant diseases also pose
significant challenges for greenhouse
vegetable growers.
" A lot of greenhouse vegetables are
grown organically or pesticide-free, "
Whitaker said. " We need help on
using beneficial insects. Information
such as which beneficials should we
use that would be better. "
He also recalled several times where
he sent a sick plant to North Carolina
State's Plant Disease and Insect Clinic
for diagnosis and other times when he
received aid from county Extension agents.
" N.C. State has been there for us
in the past and I know that if I have
problems that arise in my greenhouse
they will be there and they can help
me with those problems, " he said.
" We made a donation to the Plant
Sciences Initiative, thinking in the
future there may be something that
you all can help us with. Although it
will be a little drop in the bucket for
the finances you all will need for the
project, we did what we could do to
help you all get moving along. "
He added, entreating other growers
and associations considering where
to give their charitable donations, " If
more people donate, the quicker we
can get the Plant Sciences Initiative
off the ground and working for the
betterment of agriculture in North
Carolina. " VGN
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December 2020

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