State

The baby food people keep in close contact with the growers, from planting and fertilization through harvesting, to assure quality produce. One of the new crops introduced in North Carolina is carrots. The agricultural personnel at Gerber is constantly striving to help growers improve their tonnage, and are working with growers throughout the State to locate the right area for maxi¬ mum yields. Gerber uses large quantities of meat and poultry in its products, and is very hopeful that these may soon be ob¬ tained on local markets. Included in the list of vegetables presently under contract with Tar Heel growers are green beans, red beets, carrots, squash, and sweet po¬ tatoes. Apples lead the fruit require¬ ments. Under research for future plan¬ ning are English peas and spinach, and there is a possibility that prune-type plums and some pears will be needed. Plots of apricots are being tested for the future. Working closely with North Caro¬ lina State College. Clcmson College. ID THE STATE. October 14. I96t and the North Carolina Mountain Hor¬ ticultural Crops Experiment Station near Fletcher are Jack Leaver, produce manager. Keith Haislcy. agricultural research specialist, and Hardy Cald¬ well. Caldwell is the field representa¬ tive. and travels all over the state work¬ ing with growers to oiler suggestions concerning crops grown for Gerber. The Gerber plont in Buncombe. Ncxl door ij the Ball |or factory. Packing from 2,500,000 to 3,000,- 000 containers of baby food per week, the Gerber plant furnishes employment to an average of 300 to 350 men and women from the Asheville and Hender¬ sonville areas, and has a payroll of over $ 1 .000.000 annually. Adjacent to the Gerber plant on the south is Ball Brothers, makers of glass containers. Ball announced the location of an Asheville plant soon after Gerber be¬ gan construction in the area, so the advent of one industry led to the locat¬ ing of an allied industry, bringing even more money into circulation in North Carolina employment, purchases of materials, purchases of produce, and services. John Erichson, plant manager, re¬ cently complimented the way in which the Gerber employees had taken hold and learned the many skills required in food processing. To many residents of Western North Carolina, this presented an entirely new concept in making a living. The operation comprises 6 acres un- ( Continued on page 24) Former* o* for owoy at Patquofank raise food under contracl for the Gerber plont. How One Plant’s Benefits Spread all Over Carolina When a new plant was tossed into a valley eight miles south of Asheville, the splash caused ripples which have spread from one end of the state to another. It is a good example of the kind of industry which stimulates many sections and benefits people who never sec or even hear about the plant. The Gerber F’roducts Company not only provided a handsome payroll for Buncombe County. Its requirements launched a small army of North Caro¬ lina farmers into new fields. Already the factory' is using about 3,500 tons of North Carolina grown vegetables annually, and about 3,000 tons of fruit.