In the news: state’s wine, grape industry charts its course

Posted on March 25, 2015

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In the news

On March 23, 2015, the News & Observer covered North Carolina’s rapidly growing wine and grape industry. The article centers on the NC wine and grape industry strategic plan developed by UNCG researchers Erick Byrd and Bonnie Canziani. The piece lists the plan’s key areas of direction and includes quotes from one of the researchers and NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“The economic impact of the wine and grape industry in North Carolina is about $1.3 billion,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I look forward to the implementation of the objectives outlined in the strategic plan to better serve the state’s 400 commercial grape growers and 125 wineries.”

…The number of wineries in the state has more than quadrupled over the last decade, supporting more than 7,600 North Carolina jobs and revitalizing some rural areas. “It was obvious that people who had tobacco farms were starting to turn into other types of agricultural crops,” said Bonnie Canziani, who co-developed the report with Erick Byrd. “Grape production was one that was tickling people’s fancy.”

Learn more at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/smithfield-herald/article16075685.html.

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