RALEIGH, NC – Prime Lumber Company, a manufacturer of hardwood lumber, received the 2014 North Carolina Exporter of the Year award from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Bill Graban and Jeffrey Neidert, Prime Lumber's co-owners, were presented the award during the recent Ag Development Forum at the State Fairgrounds.

Based in Thomasville, NC, Prime Lumber processes and sells domestic and imported hardwood lumber for a variety of secondary wood product uses including furniture, cabinets, architectural woodwork, flooring and musical instruments. The company shipped more than 600 containers of lumber to ports around the world. It recently added three dry kilns to meet increased demand for its products.

Prime Lumber has chain of custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The company also participates in the American Hardwoods "Treasured for Generations." promotion.