Our Extraordinary Hometowns Articles

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How Local Produce Leads to Local Innovation When you take a bite of an apple or dig into some leafy greens, do you ever think about where they came from and how they were grown? With the wealth of information available via the Internet, wary consumers in North Carolina (and beyond) are getting invested in and engaged with where and how their food is produced, from the chemicals involved to the methods used to get the goods from the farm to their forks. It’s no surprise that many are finding it’s often more beneficial for their bodies, their families, and their communities to purchase food products from local farms. Paul Jones, Media Marketing Specialist of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, explains that the interest in organic, locally grown food is nothing new in North Carolina. “Agriculture has such a rich heritage in North Carolina and continues to be the state’s top industry,” he explains. “I think both those factors contribute to our strong interest in local food.” But the rebirth of the farm-to-table movement nationally has been “tremendously beneficial” to farms that dot the state, says Jones. One such business is Pine Knot Farms located in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. Pine Knot Farms: Organic Original The Orange County farm was originally built for large tobacco crops but is now known more for its certified organic vegetables including collards, kale, and sweet potato greens. Owner Stanley Hughes and his wife, Linda Leach Hughes, are proud to carry on the century-old tradition of organic farming that started when Stanley’s grandfather purchased the land in 1912. “Back in the day, they were farming organically, but there was no term for it,” says Linda. “It was just the way things were done. This land is over 100 years old and has never had any chemicals on it.” Stanley says that the local movement has led to increased demand of Pine Knot’s organic products. “We’ve seen an increase of 15-25% a year in the last 10 years because folks are more educated about what they eat.” Buying Local Helps Local Economies And they are not alone. The Hughes say they have seen many other farms benefiting from consumers who keep their food spending within the community. “It’s helped them to maintain 5 min read

Our Extraordinary Hometowns: Denton, North Carolina Lucas Lawing may have been our youngest entrant in our essay contest, but at age 10, he is no less talented. We were charmed by the descriptions of his hobbies and activities in and around Denton. 3 min read

Our Extraordinary Hometowns: Tabor City, North Carolina One of our honorable mention nominees in our “What’s Extraordinary in Your Hometown?” Essay Contest is Jessica Harper Davis of Tabor City. We loved that you can feel her personal connection to the town in every word. 3 min read

Our Extraordinary Hometowns: Badin, North Carolina Honorable mention nominee Nikki Laster’s entry in our “What’s Extraordinary in Your Hometown?” Essay Contest captured our attention with its historical details and natural story-telling rhythm. 3 min read

South Carolina Industries and Their Economic Impact [INFOGRAPHIC] Check out this South Carolina infographic to learn more about areas for job growth and business opportunities. 1 min read

Our Hometown: Moore County Our friends at MooreAlive.com put together this great video that shows off what makes Moore County so special. 1 min read

HappyCakes Cupcakery Finds the Sweet Spot HappyCakes Cupcakery began satisfying Morehead City’s sweet tooth even before co-owner Angela Diaz formally launched the business in September 2012 with her daughter-in-law, Kaylee. “We had a lot of friends encouraging us to go into business.” 3 min read

Duplin wine, Aunt Ruby's peanuts, Seagrove pottery

8 Local Gift Ideas from NC, SC, and VA This holiday season, avoid the door-busters at the mega department stores, and instead, get unique gifts for your loved ones from some of these fine local businesses in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. 3 min read

Business Spotlight: HappyCakes Cupcakery After winning Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, Angela Diaz and her daughter-in-law, Kaylee opened HappyCakes Cupcakery in Morehead City and continue to serve lines of hungry customers while giving back to the community. Learn more about their story. 3 min read

North Carolina Industries and Their Economic Impact [INFOGRAPHIC] We’re excited to bring you the first in a series of three exploratory infographics on the key industries in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and their respective impact on their state’s economies. 1 min read

Team members of Ace Hardware standing in front of paint swatches.

An Evolution with Heart: Inside Schofield’s Ace Hardware A lot has changed since 1918, but Schofield’s (now Schofield’s Ace Hardware) place in the Florence, SC community remains the same. Despite a range of national chain big-box retailers, locals still flock to Schofield’s. 2 min read

Business Spotlight: Schofield's Ace Hardware Video

Business Spotlight: Schofield’s Ace Hardware First Bank client Schofield’s Ace Hardware is much more than a hardware store in Florence, SC. On top of the paint, plumbing, and electrical equipment, they carry sporting goods, hunting and fishing clothing, outdoor accessories, shoes, and boots. 2 min read

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