Kernersville, NC - U.S. Senator Kay Hagan today toured the packaging and distribution facility for Miss Jenny's Pickles, a small business in Kernersville that ships its famous pickles across the globe. The success of Miss Jenny's Pickles has been documented on "60 Minutes," in Forbes Magazine, The Huffington Post, and recognized with a national Good Food Award. Hagan met with co-founders Jenny Fulton and Ashlee Furr to discuss how Hagan can work in Washington to support North Carolina's many entrepreneurs and small business owners.

"Small businesses play a tremendous role in creating jobs and growing the North Carolina economy," said Hagan. "Jenny and Ashlee exemplify the North Carolina entrepreneurial spirit, and Miss Jenny's Pickles is an excellent model for how small businesses can ship the 'Made in North Carolina' label around the world. I am so pleased to know Miss Jenny's Pickles plans to export to even more countries after connecting with the Export-Import Bank at my exporter forum. As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, I will continue to support legislation that helps our small businesses grow and expand."

Hagan met Fulton last year at Hagan's small business exporter forum, an event that provided North Carolina businesses with practical advice on how to gain a competitive edge when selling their goods and services overseas. Hagan visited Miss Jenny's Pickles to see firsthand how small businesses are expanding exports and shipping their products and services worldwide.

"Today was pickle great," said Fulton. "We love Senator Hagan. Hard work is what we do everyday, just like her, and it's why we're successful."

As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, Senator Hagan is focused on legislation that supports small businesses growth. For instance, the Hagan-supported Small Business Jobs Act freed up capital for North Carolina small businesses to expand and hire new workers.

Hagan was also instrumental in the 2012 reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, an agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing without adding a dime to the deficit. Since 2007, the Bank has supported more than $2 billion in export sales by 161 North Carolina companies, the majority of which are small businesses.