Cottle Farms received 2022 Exporter of the Year award
Cottle Farms, Inc. received 2022 Exporter of the Year award for their work exporting muscadine grapes into Asia.
“Receiving this award is such an honor and we look forward to the potential growth with our local consumers and any other international opportunities to come,” said Cottle.
The award ceremony was held at the NC State Fair Grounds and North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler presented the award.
“The Exporter of the Year award is awarded to a supplier in North Carolina who does business outside of the country,” said Ron Cottle, Farm Manager for Cottle Farms, Inc. and President of Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc. “We won this year because of our efforts in exporting our muscadine grapes into Asia.”
In 1964, Ned A. Cottle, a 3rd generation farmer of berries, planted his first field of Strawberries, after taking the advice from his father-in-law, David J. Price, Sr., in Faison, N.C. Mr. Cottle saw a demand for “U-Pick” strawberries and increased his production for both the retailers and the need for a direct-to-consumer production.
For this expansion, he began growing two acres of strawberries at a Goldsboro, N.C. location, which was his first “U-pick” farm. The market for “U-pick” berries gradually increased, as did Mr. Cottle’s desire to meet that need. He also noticed the reduced risk in “U-pick” farms than in growing berries to be sold commercially because California was rapidly taking over the commercial sales of strawberries.
“Winning an award is always special,” said Cottle. “Not only to us personally but to our consumers it guarantees them they are receiving exactly what we are committed to which is fresh local produce.”
Today’s business encompasses three major areas. The first is the actual farming operations which Ron manages for his father. The second is the alliances Ron has formed with other growers to provide a great variety and availability of fruits and vegetables. These alliances allow Cottle Farms, Inc. and the other growers to sell and ship the grower’s products through Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc. The last is the production of strawberry plant stock, which is based in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In cooperation as a joint venture with Westech Agriculture Limited, Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc. has become one of the leading strawberry plant suppliers on the East coast.
“When you buy from a local farmer, you’re not only supporting the farmer,” said Cottle. “You’re supporting your community. You’re supporting your state.”
Today, Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc. has broadened its horizons to growing and shipping products from other regions in the United States, as well as an international program with blueberries from Chile, Peru, Argentina and British Columbia.
