Govenor Pat McCrory made several appointments recently. Included was a North Carolina Food Manufacturing Task Force.
Don Butler of Clinton, a Bladen County native was named to the task force composed of individuals who are collectively experienced in agriculture, poultry production, beef production, pork production, dairy production, crop production, agribusiness, food processing, food packaging, transportation, education, government and economic development.
Others on the 35 member task force include Lt. Governor Dan J. Forest; Steve Troxler, Secretary of Agriculture;, John Skvarta, Secretary of Commerce; Dan Gerlach of the Golden Leaf Foundation, and John Prestage of Sampson County;
Butler, a Bladenboro native, is Vice-President of Government Relations & Public Affairs Sustainability Officer for Murphy-Brown LLC. and is Director of Government Relations for Smithfield Foods.
McCrory pointed out that agribusiness is the backbone of North Carolina’s economy, and that agribusiness is the state’s growth industry of the future.
The Governor charged the Task Force with developing a strategic business plan to leverage existing activities in food processing and manufacturing: establishing a statewide food processing an manufacturing organization, directory and data base, creating a plan to develop a proactive industrial recruitment campaign for new business development, and initiating a plan to foster the growth of food manufacturing entrepreneurial endeavors, enhance development of innovative food products and processes, and provide sector-specific regulatory training and outreach.
Butler began his career in the pork industry in 1991 with Carroll’s Foods. He owns and operates a contract pig nursery operation with his father. He is past president and board member of the N.C. Pork Council and served as president on the board of directors for the National Pork Council.
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