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Agriculture and food supply are deemed essential businesses in Executive Order 120.

John Hart, Associate Editor

April 1, 2020

1 Min Read
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John Hart

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says farmers deserve our support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are a leading economic driver in the state in addition to growing life sustaining food.

“We will work to keep the food supply chain open. In the meantime, families should stay at home whenever possible and practice social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Cooper wrote in an email response to Southeast Farm Press March 31. 

 “Agriculture and food supply are deemed essential businesses in Executive Order 120. While we’ve taken decisive action to prevent the spread of this disease, we must also work to protect our economy and food supply,” Cooper stressed.

“Agriculture has always been the backbone of our state’s economy, and I appreciate the work of our farmers, growers, and agribusinesses and will work tirelessly to ensure they have both the full support of state government and access to new federal programs like paycheck protection and small business assistance,” the governor, a Democrat, noted.

Cooper said that under his executive order, farmer’s markets are deemed essential businesses and can remain open but should implement social distancing guidelines to protect vendors and their customers. In addition, strawberry stands and pick-your-own strawberry farms may continue to operate and serve customers as long as they have social distancing guidelines in place.

About the Author(s)

John Hart

Associate Editor, Southeast Farm Press

John Hart is associate editor of Southeast Farm Press, responsible for coverage in the Carolinas and Virginia. He is based in Raleigh, N.C.

Prior to joining Southeast Farm Press, John was director of news services for the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C. He also has experience as an energy journalist. For nine years, John was the owner, editor and publisher of The Rice World, a monthly publication serving the U.S. rice industry.  John also worked in public relations for the USA Rice Council in Houston, Texas and the Cotton Board in Memphis, Tenn. He also has experience as a farm and general assignments reporter for the Monroe, La. News-Star.

John is a native of Lake Charles, La. and is a  graduate of the LSU School of Journalism in Baton Rouge.  At LSU, he served on the staff of The Daily Reveille.

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