North Guilford News

North Carolina-based farmers have largely avoided wasting produce and dairy products unlike their peers in other states were images showed rotting crops or milk being dumped when the need for food continues to climb. 

An Associated Press report published by AGRINews in mid-May generally found that most North Carolina farmers avoided waste because their fields were transitioning from spring to summer crops. However, farmers have had their struggles. 

More than a third of Triangle farmers lost approximately $1,000 a week because of COVID-19 restrictions, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Executive Director Roland McReynolds told the Associated Press. 

Some, like Roger Nutter, had do dump some of the milk produced at his Maple View Farm in Orange County because his core customers closed as a result of the coronavirus, the AP reported. 

However, Nutter's direct sales have kept him going through the tough times, the AP reported. This is all thanks to his home-delivery partners whose sales are soaring.

Nutter told AP News that his operation is going 7 days per week to keep up with all the demand for dairy products.

“We’re having to deliver seven days a week to keep up with all the demand,” Nutter told the AP. “We’re fortunate. We’ve got a job, and we’re all trying to stay healthy and trying to stay safe, and as long as we can do that, I think we’ll be able to pull through this OK.” He is also donating approximately 300 gallons of milk per week to nonprofits to help people in need.