2024 NC General Election

2024 NC Primary Elections

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

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Sarah earned her PhD in plant medicine, specializing in plant protection and integrated pest management from the University of Florida. She is married and currently lives with her family in Fayetteville.

Sarah was previously the director of food safety for the Aquaponics Association in Florida, then a food safety auditor for World Quality Services (WQS). She is currently a podcast host and producer for her own company, Farm to Taber, and works as Boto Waterworks as a farm & food systems trainer.

Sarah's campaign for commissioner of agriculture is her first entry into politics.

Candidate website

Supports Appalachian farming in North Carolina, citing its suitability for various crops and potential for significant economic benefits.

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina can grow a wide range of crops nearly year-round... With these advantages, we can double or triple how much North Carolina’s farms earn from agriculture..."

The candidate's website says, "Alongside her work with family farms, Dr. Taber helped launch a series of vegetable greenhouses and indoor farms... This experience taught her how to bring new people and perspectives into agriculture... Dr. Taber is an agricultural leader with a track record of growing new farm businesses and bringing new people into farming."

The candidate's website says, "Mature hazelnuts cost about as much to grow per year as corn, but return roughly $2K per acre—five times more than corn... Hazelnuts can be grown throughout North Carolina."

The candidate's website says, "Solution: Attracting hazelnut processers and farm lenders that already specialize in tree crops can bring up to $1 Billion of economic impact to North Carolina... high-value vegetables like tomatoes and strawberries can be grown between hazelnut rows while trees mature to offset planting costs."

The candidate's website says, "Strawberries earn a whopping $40K or more per acre... fresh North Carolina strawberries can easily out-compete long-distance imports on quality, and our state has easier access to markets in the northeast than either Florida or California."

Said, "Florida and California’s strawberry crops ripen before North Carolina’s, beating us to the best prices... We also don’t have processing plants that would let us use late or misshapened berries. Without this infrastructure, North Carolina’s strawberry industry is undersized, highly seasonal, and misses out on its full value."

The candidate's website says, "Allergen-free food processing has grown to a $30B global industry... This causes hundreds of costly recalls each year, and creates an opportunity for anyone willing to create that infrastructure."

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina lacks facilities to process hazelnuts into products like hazelnut butter... Farmers effectively have nowhere to sell hazelnuts, making it a foolish decision to plant them... hazelnuts take 4-6 years to mature... Our current farm policies and financial system make it difficult to wait 4-6 years for a crop."

The candidate's website says, "Fresh North Carolina strawberries can easily out-compete long-distance imports on quality, and our state has easier access to markets in the northeast than either Florida or California."

The candidate's website says, "Sarah has made a career of bringing new people into agriculture and helping farm businesses grow... to help North Carolina put our countryside to work and grow our economy as our next Commissioner of Agriculture."

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina’s agricultural leaders simply haven’t invested in Appalachia as much as the coastal plain... Meanwhile, vegetable farmers in the mountains often lack anywhere to sell their crops—leaving them to improvise sales on the roadside."

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina can grow a wide range of crops nearly year-round, thanks to our warm coastal plain and cooler mountains. And we’re a day’s drive from major markets in the northeastern corridor. With these advantages,"

The candidate's website says, "“North Carolina is primed for serious growth in our farm sector,” Taber said. “With our climate, abundant water, and proximity to hungry cities farther north, we can easily double how much our state makes from agriculture.”"

The candidate's website says, "Dr. Sarah Taber, a Fayetteville-based farm operations specialist, launched her statewide campaign for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture... In her launch, Dr. Taber emphasized her background helping family farms and food companies convert operations to vegetables, allowing her clients to grow to a combined value of $4 billion today."

The candidate's website says, "Taber is running to help our rural communities thrive and grow by rooting out corruption in our agriculture sector, ... and making sure that we have a working countryside that works for everyone."

The candidate's website says, "Challenge: North Carolina has abundant water and long, warm summers ideal for tomatoes. However, North Carolina currently lacks infrastructure—namely, canneries that turn tomatoes into sauce."

The candidate's website says, "An average acre of processing tomatoes earns $1k more than tobacco. ... most US tomato processing takes place in California. But they lack the land and water resources to keep up with demand."

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina has abundant water and long, warm summers ideal for tomatoes. However, North Carolina currently lacks infrastructure—namely, canneries that turn tomatoes into sauce."

The candidate's website says, "Mature hazelnuts cost about as much to grow per year as corn, but return roughly $2K per acre—"

The candidate's website says, "of economic impact to North Carolina. Additionally, with proper funding structures, high-value vegetables like tomatoes and strawberries can be grown between hazelnut rows while trees mature to offset planting costs."

The candidate's website says, "They can also be harvested with the same equipment already being used on blueberry farms across NC, so farmers don’t need to buy all-new equipment. Hazelnuts can be grown throughout North Carolina."

The candidate's website says, "global industry. However, there is not enough allergen-free processing space to meet demand. This causes hundreds of costly recalls each year, and creates an opportunity for anyone willing to create that infrastructure."

The candidate's website says, "Incentivize allergen-free food handling spaces that would be open for food companies to rent. This reduces the risk for companies, attracting more food businesses to NC that will create rural jobs."

The candidate's website says, "With proper lending programs, we can grow North Carolina’s strawberry industry and greenhouse capacity to capture the east-coast market. Moving just 10% of California’s strawberry production to North Carolina would bring"

The candidate's website says, "In the years since, Sarah has made a career of bringing new people into agriculture and helping farm businesses grow."

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina has a unique opportunity to grow our farm sector... Sarah’s three-part plan will allow us to grow by focusing on three key areas:"

The candidate's website says, "By updating the way we do agriculture to include more produce, we have an amazing opportunity to grow our economy by as much as"

The candidate's website says, "Challenge: These facilities need high-level food safety certifications. This makes them a little more challenging than most commercial food operators are willing to attempt."

Supports innovative farming, having aided in establishing multi-billion dollar greenhouses and indoor farms, ensuring their success and advocating for the inclusion of diverse individuals in agriculture, countering the notion that farm losses are unavoidable.

Believes agriculture must be economically sustainable, as romantic notions don't ensure food security or justify farming efforts.

Supports promoting agriculture in North Carolina's Appalachia, countering the misconception that it's unsuitable for farming, by highlighting its potential for profitable crops and significant economic benefits for mountain farmers.

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina is ideal for high-value crops like berries, carrots, celery, sweet corn, tree nuts, pumpkins, and orchard fruit. These crops can bring 10-100x more revenue than North Carolina’s current standbys like corn, soy, and tobacco."

Said, "North Carolina is ideal for high-value crops like berries, carrots, celery, sweet corn, tree nuts, pumpkins, and orchard fruit. These crops can bring 10-100x more revenue than North Carolina’s current standbys like corn, soy, and tobacco."

Believes North Carolina should capitalize on agriculture by growing hemp and cannabis, and expanding fruit and vegetable production, to increase income, create jobs, and prevent farmland loss to real estate development.

Supports strengthening farm economies beyond agriculture by developing facilities for food processing, advocating for fair wages for skilled workers, and investing in rural infrastructure to enhance local revenue and economic impact.

Wants to developing more facilities for food processing, specifically amongst rural communities.

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina lacks facilities to process hazelnuts into products like hazelnut butter. Farmers effectively have nowhere to sell hazelnuts, making it a foolish decision to plant them... hazelnuts take 4-6 years to mature... Our current farm policies and financial system make it difficult to wait 4-6 years for a crop."

Supports creating allergen-free rental spaces for food companies, to boost North Carolina's economy by $1.5B annually and generate rural jobs, particularly revitalizing former mill towns with skilled labor and rail infrastructure.

Supports creating allergen-free rental spaces for food companies, saying "Capturing just 5% of that market would bring $1.5B to our state each year" and would "bring high-value jobs to former mill towns."

The candidate's website says, "These facilities need high-level food safety certifications. This makes them a little more challenging than most commercial food operators are willing to attempt."

- Supports promoting agriculture in North Carolina's Appalachia, countering the misconception that it's unsuitable for farming, by highlighting its potential for profitable crops and significant economic benefits for mountain farmers.
- Said, "North Carolina is ideal for high-value crops like berries, carrots, celery, sweet corn, tree nuts, pumpkins, and orchard fruit. These crops can bring 10-100x more revenue than North Carolina’s current standbys like corn, soy, and tobacco."
- Believes North Carolina should capitalize on agriculture by growing hemp and cannabis, and expanding fruit and vegetable production, to increase income, create jobs, and prevent farmland loss to real estate development.
- Wants to developing more facilities for food processing, specifically amongst rural communities.
- The candidate's website says, "North Carolina lacks facilities to process hazelnuts into products like hazelnut butter. Farmers effectively have nowhere to sell hazelnuts, making it a foolish decision to plant them... hazelnuts take 4-6 years to mature... Our current farm policies and financial system make it difficult to wait 4-6 years for a crop."
- Supports creating allergen-free rental spaces for food companies, saying "Capturing just 5% of that market would bring $1.5B to our state each year" and would "bring high-value jobs to former mill towns."
- The candidate's website says, "These facilities need high-level food safety certifications. This makes them a little more challenging than most commercial food operators are willing to attempt."

Agriculture & Food

The candidate's website says, "As Big Agriculture continues to dump fertilizer and other cattle ranch runoff into the Gulf of Mexico, our aquatic systems suffer. ... In addition, the dumping of this pollution into the Gulf of Mexico creates “dead zones,” or areas of the ocean where the oxygen is so low that life struggles to survive. ... A recent report found that ... it’s still about the size of Yellowstone National Park, roughly 3,058 square miles."

The candidate's website says, "Home » Transforming old oil rigs into seaweed farms could resurrect “dead zones” in the ocean"

The candidate's website says, "Transforming old oil rigs into seaweed farms could resurrect "dead zones" in the ocean | Sarah Taber for Agriculture Commissioner"

The candidate's website says, "Transforming old oil rigs into seaweed farms could resurrect “dead zones” in the ocean"

Wants to transform old oil rigs into seaweed farms to resurrect “dead zones” in the ocean.

- Wants to transform old oil rigs into seaweed farms to resurrect “dead zones” in the ocean.

Energy & the Environment

The candidate's website says, "in additional impacts. Meanwhile, tomato canneries can provide accessible rural jobs with fewer health, pollution, and property value hazards than those associated with meat plants."

Supports the construction of tomato canneries and believes they can provide accessible rural jobs with fewer health, pollution, and property value hazards than those associated with meat plants.

- Supports the construction of tomato canneries and believes they can provide accessible rural jobs with fewer health, pollution, and property value hazards than those associated with meat plants.

Labor

The candidate's website says, "Solution: Attract investment in tomato processing. ... By moving just 10% of California's tomato processing to North Carolina, we could bring in $100 Million in additional farm revenue and up to $1 Billion in additional impacts. ... Meanwhile, tomato canneries can provide accessible rural jobs ..."

The candidate's website says, "Moving just 10% of California’s strawberry production to North Carolina would bring $250M of farm revenue to our state and up to an additional $2.5B in additional economic impacts. Meanwhile, greenhouses can help provide high-quality, year-round jobs."

The candidate's website says, "Simple supply chain investments. By investing in pack and processing facilities, better financing for farmers, and worker housing, our state can unlock"

Supports investing in rural North Carolina by promoting ownership models like profit-sharing and cooperatives, which retain revenue locally and enhance rural economies, citing Mt. Olive Pickle Company's success as an example.

The candidate's website says, "Solution: Simple supply chain investments. By investing in pack and processing facilities, better financing for farmers, and worker housing, our state can unlock billions of dollars in growth for North Carolina’s western mountains."

Says, "By investing in pack and processing facilities, better financing for farmers, and worker housing, our state can unlock billions of dollars in growth for North Carolina’s western mountains."

The candidate's website says, "Additionally, specialty food handling is a great fit to bring high-value jobs to former mill towns. These have highly-skilled workforces, good rail infrastructure, and an urgent need for new employment."

Advocates for specialty food handling, saying it "is a great fit to bring high-value jobs to former mill towns. These have highly-skilled workforces, good rail infrastructure, and an urgent need for new employment."

The candidate's website says, "in additional economic impacts. Meanwhile, greenhouses can help provide high-quality, year-round jobs."

Believes that greenhouses can help provide high-quality, year-round jobs.

Said, "We need on-ramps for new people to become farmers. We need fair funding for Black and other marginalized farmers, who are on the leading edge of farm loss in North Carolina."

The candidate's website says, "By updating the way we do agriculture to include more produce, we have an amazing opportunity to grow our economy by as much as seven billion dollars over the next decade."

Says, "By updating the way we do agriculture to include more produce, we have an amazing opportunity to grow our economy by as much as seven billion dollars over the next decade."

Believes the Russian invasion's impact on global food supply is overstated; asserts the world has sufficient wheat, not a shortage, and calls for rational allocation over panic, as current supplies are adequate despite not being surplus-level.

- Supports investing in rural North Carolina by promoting ownership models like profit-sharing and cooperatives, which retain revenue locally and enhance rural economies, citing Mt. Olive Pickle Company's success as an example.
- Says, "By investing in pack and processing facilities, better financing for farmers, and worker housing, our state can unlock billions of dollars in growth for North Carolina’s western mountains."
- Advocates for specialty food handling, saying it "is a great fit to bring high-value jobs to former mill towns. These have highly-skilled workforces, good rail infrastructure, and an urgent need for new employment."
- Believes that greenhouses can help provide high-quality, year-round jobs.
- Said, "We need on-ramps for new people to become farmers. We need fair funding for Black and other marginalized farmers, who are on the leading edge of farm loss in North Carolina."
- Says, "By updating the way we do agriculture to include more produce, we have an amazing opportunity to grow our economy by as much as seven billion dollars over the next decade."
- Believes the Russian invasion's impact on global food supply is overstated; asserts the world has sufficient wheat, not a shortage, and calls for rational allocation over panic, as current supplies are adequate despite not being surplus-level.

Economy

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Sarah Taber

- The Commissioner of Agriculture protects, maintains, and enhances the ability of agriculture to produce food. 
- The Commissioner of Agriculture enforces regulations dealing with agriculture needed to supply food.
- The Commissioner of Agriculture oversees an office of over 2,000 employees. 
- The Commissioner of Agriculture is elected for a four-year term. The position has no term limits.

Oversees regulation of agriculture and food production in North Carolina

North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, Democratic Primary

Candidates (1)