Tom Gilmore is a second generation nurseryman whose trees, plants and flowers have gained national attention.
Tom Gilmore is a modest man with a less-than-modest business.
For 100 years Gilmore Plant and Bulb Company Inc. has been shipping trees, plants and flowers across the United States, adorning great edifices like the Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon, Disney World and miles of highway along the John F. Kennedy Parkway.
“There are very few monuments that don’t have Gilmore plants,” said Tom.
Tom Gilmore was born into the nursery business 76 years ago as a second generation nurseryman and has since gained legendary status as the president and co-owner of the oldest nursery in North Carolina, a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and current member of the North Carolina Farm Service Agency State Committee.
“I pray a lot and thank God,” said Gilmore of his family’s long success. “Some of my most enjoyable moments was when I used to make house calls to sell trees and people would say that my daddy was there 40 years ago and sold them 20-30 pecan trees,” said Gilmore. “My father sold pecan trees for a dollar back in the 1920s. I tell them that they got a pretty good return.” Continue reading →
Less than two weeks remain for producers to complete the 2012 Ag Census. The census collects detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers do business. All farmers and ranchers should have received a census form in the mail in early January. Forms can be returned by mail or completed online by the Feb. 4 deadline.
