The February program will be on a local company, Genera, located in Vonore TN at the Niles Ferry Industrial Park. The company is recognized as the largest fully integrated non-wood fiber and fiber product manufacturing facility in the United States. The mill produces ag-based fiber for market use as well as molded fiber food service and packaging products. The process and technology used in the facility creates a high-quality, short fiber wet lap market pulp in a more sustainable method then other technologies. Their thermoforming  operations produce high-quality, durable goods for use in a variety of food service applications.

In addition to the state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing capacity, the facility has significant laboratory space utilized by Genera for product R&D and quality control services.

Genera partners with farmers to handle a wide range of biomass feedstocks each year, including dedicated agricultural crops, crop residues and woody materials. The company is working with East Tennessee  landowners and agricultural producers to create new markets for the materials they grow.

Genera is focused on sustainable utilization of agricultural materials for products that benefit rural communities and consumers. Agricultural feedstocks, both dedicated crops and residues, provide key building blocks for an array of products. Genera’s core expertise is the development, production, and supply of agricultural feedstocks to feed its own manufacturing facility, producing high quality agricultural fibers and compostable products.

Dr. Tiller earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is widely recognized as an industry expert, having been called on more than a half dozen times to testify before Congress and frequently providing agency briefings and analyses.

For more information on TSK and its meetings, please email TSK secretary, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call him at 865-679-9854.