🏆 Nominate your top picks for this year's Carolina's Finest Awards for a chance to win $100! VOTE NOW

Issues

October 2025

A Harvest for All

Although it is an unfortunate reality for many in rural North Carolina, some may not be familiar with the term “food desert.” In short, it’s an area where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious food. As you all well know, a poor diet quickly leads to poor health, and staying healthy is everything. In this issue, we’re highlighting individuals who are dedicated to fostering better access to food, creating oases in the desert. Also, have you heard of the Beast of Bladenboro? It’s a pretty spooky history, but one with a happy ending.

—Scott Gates, editor

More Power

More Power

Tech Conference Fosters Invaluable Collaboration Among Co-ops

Cooperative Technologies Conference and Expo brings together 455 leaders from 26 states

More Power

Pitt and Greene General Manager Named CFC Board President

Mark Suggs serves as president of National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation

Carolina Kitchen

Sauerbraten Meatballs

Traditional sauerbraten is rich, sweet and savory — but takes days to make. Our shortcut? These flavorful, saucy meatballs bring all the taste in a fraction of the time.

Creamy Dilled Mashed Potatoes and Apples

Just a couple of tweaks elevate ordinary mashed potatoes to extraordinary … like the surprise of apple and fresh dill. Serve as a side for saucy mains, including our Sauerbraten Meatballs.

Pumpkin Biscuits

Here’s a throwback recipe from our October 1974 edition. Apparently, its creator received 53 awards for her cooking, beginning with “pone” bread in a frying pan over a fireplace at age 8. We paired her muffin/scone-like biscuits with some Cinnamon-Honey Butter.

Carolina Living

Carolina Living

More Than a Bargain

Exploring the pros, cons and tips for making the most out of secondhand finds

Carolina Living

Sneezing in Your Pumpkin Spice?

Here’s why allergies spike in the fall

Carolina Living

Honoring Hispanic Heritage

Celebrate the contributions and diversity of Hispanic and Latin communities

More from this issue

Energy Sense

Crunching Numbers for Efficiency Best Bets

How to determine the ROI of home projects

Viewpoints

Controlling Costs on ‘Both Sides of the Meter’

New behind-the-meter tools empower member-owners to reduce usage and lower bills

Carolina Snapshots

So Creepy

Reader submitted photos.

Where in Carolina Country is This?

Check it Out

Explore Past Issues

View All Past Issues