Mecklenburg Radiology Associates merged with Piedmont Radiological Associates of Salisbury on Jan 1.

The combined entity includes 45 radiologists and 11 physician assistants and has locations in Charlotte, Salisbury, Concord, Mooresville, Huntersville, Ballantyne, Matthews, Monroe, Gastonia, and Rock Hill. The collective group will continue to be known as Mecklenburg Radiology Associates, and will continue to focus on personalized, state-of-the-art subspecialty care.

Please join Mecklenburg Radiology Associates in welcoming Dr. Paul Capito, Dr. Fred Dula, Dr. James Johnson, Dr. Jeffrey Ralston, and Dr. Jeffrey Stanczak.

Conference focuses on helping farmers grow business

KANNAPOLIS — Piedmont Grown will host the 4th annual Growing Your Farm and Food Business Conference on Feb. 23 at the David H. Murdock Research Institute on the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. The one-day event is geared toward farmers and producers in North Carolina who are interested in growing their bottom line.

The conference offers local farmers and producers opportunities to learn from nationally-known farmer and farm consultant Chris Blanchard of Purple Pitchfork in Decorah, Iowa, with his keynote speech: “Is Scaling Up Right for You.”  Nine other breakout sessions and panels are available to attendees throughout the day including sessions guiding farmers through the process of connecting with local chefs, navigating social media and a tour of the nearby Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm.

Demand for local products in North Carolina continues to grow, and producers are looking for resources to help get their products to the marketplace.

“I hear from other farmers they crave the tools to make them profitable, and this conference is designed to increase all of our bottom lines,” says Dani Rowland, co-owner of Rowland’s Row family farm and board member of Piedmont Grown. Piedmont Grown is a non-profit organization and a certification program that wants to make sure that farm products grown, raised, and made in the Piedmont Region are clearly identified and promoted everywhere one can buy food and farm fresh products.

The conference has been held throughout the Piedmont, and this is the first year it will be in Cabarrus County. With the growing demand from the Charlotte and triad region, the organization felt it was important to support the local producers in the southern Piedmont. A full agenda and registration can be found by going to www.eventbrite.com and searching keyword “Piedmont grown.”

Patterson Farm’s president talks tomato grafting at conference

CHINA GROVE — Randall Patterson, president of Patterson Farm Inc. of China Grove, participated in a panel on grafting plants to sustain yields at the National Vegetable Grafting Symposium in Savannah, Georgia.

The symposium was entitled “Growing Roots for the Vegetable Industry in the U.S.” It was held in conjunction with the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

Patterson spoke on grafted tomatoes, discussing rootstock in terms of site selection, fumigation, place spacing, pruning methods, and spray and irrigation programs. He concluded that grafted tomato plants will overcome the targeted pest — bacterial wilt — and that plant spacing, pruning, fumigation and trellis systems should be adjusted to reduce the overall increased cost of grafted plants and maintain yield.

Patterson Farm is a third-generation family farm located in southwestern Rowan County. The Pattersons have been growing and selling produce since 1946 on land the family has farmed since 1919. They are one of the largest growers in North Carolina, currently harvesting 210 acres of tomatoes, 40 acres of strawberries, 100 acres of bell peppers, 56 acres of cucumbers, 27 acres of jalapenos, 36 acres of watermelons, 40 acres of pumpkins, 15,000 poinsettias, muscadines, and more.

During peak season, Patterson Farm and its three divisions — Patterson Farm, Patterson Farm Repack, and Patterson Farm Market & Tours —employ more than 300 people.

For more information, visit at www.pattersonfarminc.com.

Accountant earns new designation 

Harold Knox (Hap) Roberts Jr. has been notified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that he has attained the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation.  The designation is a joint venture of the Association of International CPAs and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.  It’s mission is to promote the science of management accounting on the global stage.

Roberts, who is also a Certified Public Accountant, is President of Statewide Title Inc., headquartered in Salisbury.