Fruit

NC State Uses Herbs And Spices To Clean Produce

Will Michaels — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Researchers at N.C. State say oils extracted from herbs and spices could act as a natural disinfectant for fruits and vegetables.

A joint project with the University of Tennessee aims to find an alternative to chlorine used on produce grown for mass consumption. Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie is a horticultural science professor at N.C. State's research campus in Kannapolis. She says pungent spices tend to be best at fighting harmful germs.

"They have a very distinct odor, like cinnamon, for instance," Perkins-Veazie says.

Apple Crop Worst in Decades

Isaac-Davy Aronson — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:39:00 +0000

North Carolina's top apple-producing county is experiencing its worst crop in decades. That's according to growers and agriculture officials who say this year's unusual weather has devastated many of Henderson County's orchards.

Adam Pryor is a farmer and President of the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association. He says the crop was hit hard in April by an overnight frost, after unusually warm weather had caused the trees to start blooming.

Strawberry Season Looking Good So Far

Jeremy Loeb — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The North Carolina Strawberry Association is optimistic about the upcoming season for growers. The weather has been ideal lately and growers are hoping there won’t be extreme temperatures in the coming months.