CHINA GROVE — Randall Patterson, president of Patterson Farm Inc. of China Grove, has earned a 2014 D Gold Star Award from the N.C. Department of Labor, in recognition of providing safe, healthy, farm-worker housing.

The double Gold Star Award recognizes businesses that have met two consecutive years of Gold Star farming. Gold Star farming requirements include local health department inspections to approve water and septic systems prior to occupancy, housing that is 100 percent in compliance at the time of preoccupancy, and farms that go beyond the requirements to ensure that housing is a Gold Star site. This involves providing additional showers, toilets, living space, refrigerators, stoves, air conditioning, washing machines, clothes dryers, a dining table large enough for all, partitions between toilets in bathrooms, telephones and recreation areas such as soccer fields.

Once a farm earns Gold Star status, owners have the option to conduct their own housing inspections, with a state inspection scheduled every other year.

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

Patterson Farm Inc. is a third-generation family farm. The company is 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.

Information on Patterson Farm Inc. can be found at www.pattersonfarminc.com.

Downtown restaurant wins state award

Emma’s of Salisbury was awarded at the N.C. Main Street Awards Conference Thursday in Morganton.

The restaurant was named a “best adoptive reuse project” in the economic-restructuring category for 2014. Emma’s is at the corner of S. Lee Street and E. Fisher Street. The popular restaurant is in a renovated house that used to be run down and was an eyesore in the area.

The North Carolina Main Street program helps small towns preserve their historic fabric. Local resources help participants build on their community’s unique characteristics to create vibrant central business districts. This year’s award winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges from dozens of applications submitted by Main Street participants throughout the state.

Seminar on depression continues

Dorton joins Central Carolina Insurance

Roman Dorton has joined Central Carolina Insurance’s Salisbury office at 317 Jake Alexander Blvd. South as the newest member of its sales team. Roman brings four years of insurance experience, specializing in both personal and commercial products tailored to protect each client’s individual needs. He attended East Carolina University and is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Concord where he is a lifelong resident.

Real estate agents meeting  Tuesday

The Rowan Real Estate Investors and Associates will meet on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to discuss “Deal or No Deal: What Does a Good Deal Look Like?” Come interact with some Investors that are working their business and know what a great deal looks like.

The group meets regularly at China Buffet in Salisbury on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.  (China Buffet is on Arlington street behind O’Charleys near I-85 exit 76)

The purpose of the group is to provide information regarding real estate investing in Rowan County.

Call Bob Yon at 704-762-1117 for more information.