My week at NCCAT was awesome!  Yes, the WiFi/internet/technology issues were irritating.  However, the rest of my stay was great. Discovering that most of the other fellows felt as overwhelmed as I was surprisingly comforting, and I appreciate all of the new friendships made. I would have to two experiences tie as my favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the music teachers from France, Guadalajara, Columbia, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Mexico City.  Music and dancing are truly universal languages, and I can now Salsa and Merengue with confidence (but with two left feet)!

My second experience is the trip to Nantahala Outdoor Center and my first whitewater rafting experience.  It was fantastic and a major stretch for me.  I tend to be a safety girl, an observer rather than a participant.  I don’t even know how to roller skate! i learned that I CAN and SHOULD take more risks.  I know completing my internship will require my taking risks, but my trip down the river has given me the courage to take even more risks.

June 25 – NCCAT:  Ughhh – computer and WiFi issues!  But…..great tech sites, best practices, and Fellowship.

June 26 – Nantahala Outdoor Center – I have a new love :  Whitewater Rafting!  Thanks, Keenan Fellows and NCCAT!

What a “Berry” Unique Opportunity I have!  Imagine teaching students about reading and writing, grammar and vocabulary skills for ten months and then spending the entire summer on a produce farm.  Let the fun begin!

For the next five weeks of my Fellowship, I will be working at Cottle Farms with my mentor, John Parker.  John is the director of Muscadine Time, LLC., which is developing Cottle’s new whole fruit smoothie line, Juvn8.  Not only do I get to become acquainted with all aspects of a corporate farm, but I get to spend a majority of my externship working on the production, taste-tasting, market analysis and distribution of Juvn8.

My hope is to introduce my students to corporate produce farming and agribusiness practices unique to Duplin County.  I want to create lessons that integrate STEM practices with America literature and rhetorical analysis by examining the work of John Steinbeck, visual propaganda of the Great Depression and World War II era, and financial requirements for agribusiness in the United States in the 21st Century.  John and I are currently investigating the possibility of bringing Juvn8 to Duplin County Schools!

Whew!  Needless to say, my Fellowship has gotten off to a great start. I look forward to continuing my work with John and Cottle Farms.

NCCAT – What I hope to get from my Kenan Fellows experience

What in the world is an English teacher doing on a produce farm?  That seems to be the question I get from almost everyone when I tell them what I am doing this summer.  Sure, I teach in a school located in a major INTERNATIONAL agriculture hub.  However, I’m expected to concern myself with reading literature, diagramming sentences, and writing prose and verse.  That is so 20th Century!

I hope to help my students realize that agriculture should be everyone’s concern – from the laborer in the field to the broker in the warehouse to the manager of a school cafeteria.  More, importantly, I want my students to gain a better understanding of how important what we eat is to all aspects of life.  I want my students to understand the language and business of agriculture.  I want my students to recognize their importance in the global market.

Wednesday…

I learned that Samia Garner, Director of Berry Sales, is the queen of multitasking! She is responsible for getting berries from North Carolina, Florida, British Columbia, Chile, and Argentina to market. Her day begins by reviewing the USDA Market Report and the Chase Processing packing cooler inventory.  She must also check weather on the East Coast to determine price, quality, and availability of product.  She continually shifts back and forth between ITradeNetwork.com and email assisting buyers in adding, deleting and amending orders.  She is amazing!

I spent Wednesday afternoon with with Katie Alvarado, Cottle Farms’ accountant. She is responsible for three different companies within Cottle Farms and can pay anywhere from 20-30 to 200-300 people at a time!

Thursday…

Bell Pepper

I toured the farm with Ron Cottle, Owner of Cottle .Originally we were going to White Lake to visit Cottle berry growers; however, the Faison employees were harvesting grape tomatoes and peppers, so we visited various fields.

Anaheim Pepper

Number One Lesson for the Day:  Farmers cannot live without cell phones!

Jalapeno Pepper

Muscadine Time -The new smoothie mixer came in!

Friday…ahhh

I spent time with John and Michael in the office.  We met with a contractor concerning the construction of the boilers for the smoothie production area.  We are still waiting for a resolution to the bottle/bottle cap issue – who sells the caps for which bottles??? It is a conspiracy!

I also had a chance to meet with Royce Strickland, who is responsible for maintaining food safety at Cottle Farms.  He is also responsible for training employees, scheduling third-party food safety audits, checking cooler temperature logs, and maintaining the traceability [sic] of food.

Muscadine Time –  Whit Jones and Allen Jones have been certified in Juice HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).  This plan covers the health rating on all raw material in juice production which is crucial for smoothie production.My first week has been awesome!  I have learned so much, and I can’t wait to sit back this weekend and try to process all that I have learned.

NCCAT – Here I come!

In the Office with John Parker, Michael Cucchiara, and Jerry Buczek Another whirlwind day! John  and I discussed many items, including smoothie fliers, possible venues for 8 oz. bottle, and a “rough” calendar for the summer. I finally got to meet Michael Cucchiara- what energy!  He put my mind at ease, advising me to spend a week learning the Cottle Farms business and then concentrate on Muscadine Times, LLC after NCCAT.  Thanks you Michael and John for helping me put things in perspective. Possible projects – Financing Agribusiness in US? Truth in agriculture? Robotics in agriculture? Who knows! I also got to spend some time with Jerry Buczek,  who came to Cottle Farms as s a consultant in 2005 and never left!  His basic concerns- costs, expenses, and profit.  What an unbelievable task he has.  His responsibilities include overseeing

• Sales
• Legal
• Business Ethics
• Job safety
• Labor laws
• Organizational aspects
• Safety
• Certifications

His advice to farmers:

• Interact with all aspects of farming/work together
• Create a business continuity plan

Cottle Farms’ beautiful blackberries.

Today was my first official day working with John Parker and Whit Jones of Cottle Farms – A “berry” wonderful experience.  My head is spinning! Muscadines, eggplant, blueberries, squash – what a bounty!

What beautiful vines!

As we toured the various farms and facilities, I couldn’t help but think of all the wonderful projects my students could start next year to gain a better understanding of the tremendous impact agriculture has on Duplin County and what a tremendous impact they could have on sustaining future generations.  Again, my head is spinning.

The “Bedder”

Thank you , Whit Jones,for giving me tremendous insight into the magnitude of the corporate/family farm.  Thank you, also, for answering my ridiculous number of questions!  What a patient man you are.

Thank you, Kenan Institute, for giving me this opportunity!

Tomorrow – the business of agriculture!