Companies operating in the food processing industry cluster within the Piedmont Triad find this region a rich location with all the support needed to thrive and prosper. With a mid-Atlantic location at the intersection of five major interstate highways and a sophisticated network of trucking and shipping suppliers, moving product is a simple matter. In addition, approximately 9,400 of the Triad’s workers support more than 340 establishments associated with the processing or distribution of food products in the Region. This, combined with an overall exceptional business climate, is why Site Selection magazine ranked the Piedmont Triad #1.

Education & Research.  The Research Stations Division of the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services operates the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Rockingham County.  This “living laboratory” allows researchers to explore area-specific crops, forestry, aquaculture, livestock and poultry. Eighteen such research stations operate in the state through the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T), North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the United States Department of Agriculture.

NC A&T operates a Cooperative Extension Program providing research-based support to assist individuals, companies and communities with training and educational programs. These services assist with launching successful businesses and provide information to enhance product quality and profitability while meeting state and federal regulations.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro houses research facilities for the study of nutrition including The Dickson/Harris Teeter Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory and The Cemala Foundation Human Nutrition Research Laboratories. Along with state-of-the-art equipment, the Department of Nutrition consists of post-doctorate researchers who provide instruction for undergraduate and graduate programs.