Source: Taylor Knopf, NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS, 2/27/19


When Russ Vollmer’s father passed away five years ago, he left his job and went home to become the fifth generation to run his family’s farm in Franklin County. Historically, the Vollmer farm ran on tobacco. But the industry changed, and Vollmer’s father transitioned to organic strawberries, as well as some other berries and vegetables. When the younger Vollmer took over the farm, he had three years of “strawberry disasters.” Hail storms damaged and disease attacked the plants.

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