NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program

NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program This is the research and extension program of Dr. Jeanine Davis in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University based in western NC.

Since 1988, my program has been dedicated to helping people make an income with farming. Our focus is on small and medium sized farms in the Southern Appalachian mountains. This is done through research and extension efforts on new crops such as medicinal herbs, native botanicals (e.g., ginseng), hops, truffles, and stevia; vegetables; and organic farming. We hope to initiate a biodynamic program in the near future. Learn more about our program at http://ncherb.org and http://ncorganic.org.

08/28/2026

Next Thursday, September 3rd, from 10AM to 12PM, join ForestHer NC for an Adventure Scientists Butternut Tree ID Field Day in Asheville, NC at the North Carolina Arboretum!
At this field day, you’ll get your boots on the ground to learn how to spot and identify butternut trees in the wild, understand how to assess tree health and look for signs of genetic resilience, and practice the data-gathering techniques used by citizen scientists to help researchers map and protect these rare trees.
Sign up and get more details: https://www.foresthernc.org/events/adventure-scientists-butternut-tree-id-field-day

08/27/2026

Our team is collecting harvest data on organic tomatoes in the Mountain Organic Unit TOMI3 research field.

To learn more about TOMI3: Bringing our insights to the farm to co-create more effective methods of disease control in organic tomato crops, visit this website: https://eorganic.info/node/12998

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculturethat are a part of the TOMI3

08/13/2026
We are getting quite a few inquiries about ginger production again. If you are one of those interested in learning more ...
08/11/2026

We are getting quite a few inquiries about ginger production again. If you are one of those interested in learning more about it, consider attending this workshop at NC A&T State University in Greensboro. They are cutting off registration at 75 people, so don't delay.

08/08/2026

WNC Agricultural Options is now accepting grant applications from farmers diversifying or expanding their businesses. WNC AgOptions is funded by the North Carolina To***co Trust Fund Commission and works in partnership with WNC Communities and N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Applicants are encouraged to participate in information sessions listed below.

***The Intent to Apply deadline is October 9, 2026. *** All applicants must contact their county Cooperative Extension Agent before this date to discuss their projects.Extension agents remain a resource for farmers throughout the year as they complete their projects.

WNC AgOptions offers grants to farmers in the following counties/units: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

More information can be found at: https://wncagoptions.org/

Project Highlight: AHPA ERB Foundation, Improving Germination and Seedling Vigor of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a ...
08/07/2026

Project Highlight: AHPA ERB Foundation, Improving Germination and Seedling Vigor of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is a multi-year project (2026-2029) to support commercial-scale production of Actaea racemosa by focusing on improving seed germination and seedling management, led by Jeanine Davis, Ph.D., and Research Scholar Margaret Bloomquist of North Carolina State University.

to learn more about this project click this link: https://www.ahpa.org/improving_germination_seedling_vigor_black_cohosh

Address

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, 455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC
28759

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5am
Wednesday 8am - 5pm

Website

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