PHOENIX, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Chalmers R.
Carr III, owner and president of Titan Farms in Ridge Springs,
S.C., is the recipient of the inaugural Bayer CropScience Produce
Innovation Award. Carr was presented the award at the 2015 Ag
Issues Forum hosted by Bayer CropScience in Phoenix.
A first-generation farmer, Carr manages 6,100 acres of peaches,
peppers and broccoli on an operation that spans over 20 miles. His
achievements in the areas of improving product quality, increasing
market demand, supporting consumer education on health benefits and
increasing the accessibility of produce to more people exemplify
the spirit of innovation the Produce Innovation Award is designed
to honor.
Carr and his wife, Lori Anne,
purchased Titan Farms in 1999 and have since grown the operation
400 percent, from 1,500 acres to 6,100 acres. At the production
level, the Carrs attribute their success with yield and quality to
an uncompromising focus on employee training and retention,
precision ag technology and a team-based approach to farm
management.
"Any success we have begins and ends with our employees," said
Carr. "Everyone here has ownership in the products we grow, harvest
and ship. And we firmly believe our investment in employee training
and support programs pays enormous dividends in product quality and
yield."
Carr added that all farm employees are highly trained and
strictly adhere to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure Titan Farms products are
grown, harvested and packed to exceed quality standards and food
safety guidelines.
Titan Farms' adoption of innovative farm management practices
has played a key role in its continued growth and success. "Through
the use of a custom, web-based irrigation system and radio signals,
we are able to control water distribution to all parts of the farm
from one location," notes Carr. "And through precision irrigation
and accurate record keeping, we can apply just the right amount of
water and nutrients to ensure optimal growth while controlling
run-off.
"We have also incorporated weather stations that record chill
hours and rain events, and chronicle that information on an annual
basis. And we use moisture probes that help us determine the
optimal windows for water application that support fruit quality
and size."
Ensuring produce is increasingly accessible to more
people—another of the key criteria for the Produce Innovation
Award—is also an area of significant accomplishment for Chalmers.
He played a key role in opening southeastern peach exports to
Mexico in 2011 following a
lengthy, seven-year ban. Through his outreach to a USDA official
stationed in Mexico, Chalmers
initiated a meeting with Mexican officials that was the precursor
to regaining access to the Mexican market.
Titan Farms also focuses heavily on researching consumer trends
and preferences for produce packaging to stimulate market growth
opportunities. Its marketing team has developed a family of product
packages that meets demands of their diverse consumers.
"Bayer CropScience is extremely proud to honor Chalmers and his
team at Titan Farms with the inaugural Produce Innovation Award,"
said Rob Schrick, Horticulture lead,
Bayer CropScience. "Their story genuinely represents a passion for
growing high-quality produce and finding innovative ways to both
maximize production efficiency and increase demand and
accessibility as well.
"'Science for a Better Life' is our mission at Bayer, and we're
excited to spotlight an innovator who deploys methods in the field,
across their operations and within the supply chain to enhance the
positive contribution of produce on individual lives and society
overall."
In addition to winning an all-expenses paid trip to the 2015 Ag
Issues Forum, Carr was awarded a grant, which he plans to use
supporting two local community projects—"Titan's Fresh Kitchen" and
"Peaches Go To School"—that raise awareness of the health and
nutritional benefits of fresh produce.
"We have strong relationships with several area chefs and will
use a portion of the grant to host cooking demonstrations that
showcase their talents and focus on the health benefits of fruits
and vegetables," said Carr. "And we'll use the remainder of the
funds to promote fresh fruits as an essential part of local school
menus. Promoting the consumption of fresh fruit at an early age has
proven to be the basis of a life-long commitment to healthy
lifestyles."
Produce Innovation Award judges included Tom Stenzel, president, United Fresh Produce
Association; John Keeling, executive
vice president and CEO, the National Potato Council; and
Bryan Silbermann, CEO of the Produce
Marketing Association. Adrian Percy,
global head of research and development at Bayer CropScience,
completed the judging panel. The annual award is designed to honor
a leader in the produce industry whose thinking, practices and use
of technology enhance the role of produce in creating better
lives.
Visit our YouTube channel to view a video featuring Titan
Farms.
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