Specialty crops field day highlights research efforts

Melon enthusiasts gathered Thursday at the Cunningham Research Station to see the latest innovations in specialty crops.

Several North Carolina State University agricultural officials joined about 50 local farmers and crop researches to discuss the state's role in producing alternative crops for the global market.

Rep. Van Braxton, D-Lenoir, also attended the 2008 Specialty Crops Melon and Watermelon field day. Braxton said he would continue to support the state's 18 specialty crop research stations.

"The specialty crop program is valuable for farmers," he said.

Researchers continue to evaluate foreign markets and believe both Japan and China will prove to be viable consumers of specialty crops. Richard Reich, N.C. Department of Agriculture assistant commissioner, said he recently visited Japan.

"Japan spends $600 billion a year on food and 60 percent of their food is imported," he said. "They are looking to buy high-end fruits."

As markets continue to grow globally, North Carolina's agriculture business is expanding in sales. For fiscal year 2008, state crop sales reached $13.4 billion, according to N.C. State University, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Johnny Wynne.

"Agriculture is still very important in our state," he said. "There was $3 million in sprite melon sales last year alone."

The field day attendees touched, tasted and smelled hundreds of melons and watermelons on display. Crop breeder Todd Wehner explained the differences in hybrid cantaloupes and specialty watermelons.

Red, orange, and yellow-fleshed watermelons were displayed, laying on the ground cut in half.

"The new fad is everyone wants the mini-seedless watermelons," he said. "Sugar baby watermelons are also popular."

The Cunningham Research Station in Kinston was the first station in the state to begin developing breeder seeds for specialty crops. Bill Jester, specialty crops coordinator, said the program was started by farmers.

"We are always looking for new crop varieties," he said.

In 1985, the late Raymond Cunningham donated 414 acres of land in Kinston to N.C. State University. The land is now used for the Cunningham Research Station, which conducts research on all aspects of horticultural and field crops.