Ginger fills a niche in North Carolina - Land-Grant Impacts

participants at Ginger Field Day participate in planting

Ginger fills a niche in North Carolina

Agricultural Systems, Story 1890, 2026, Crop Management, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T State University, Organic Agriculture, Pest Management, Soil Health, Specialty Crops

Extension specialists in North Carolina led a program to help small and limited-resource farmers learn about growing ginger, a high-value specialty crop.

Since ginger is a tropical plant not traditionally grown in North Carolina, farmers learned site-specific techniques about propagation, seeding, transplanting in high tunnels, pest management and harvesting mature rhizomes. The Ginger Field Day 2025 increased farmer confidence, adoption and planned investment statewide.

Producing ginger will allow farmers to diversify income streams and strengthen farm viability. The program benefits North Carolina by contributing to a more resilient regional food system and improving public access to fresh, high-quality ginger used in culinary, nutrition and wellness markets.

View the full statement on the NIDB.

North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension Program | Project supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. Photo courtesy of North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension Program.

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