Scientists from seven universities on the North Carolina Research Campus are focused on specialty crops that provide bioactive compounds, which interface with human therapeutic targets to counteract chronic disease or bolster metabolism to increase endurance. We are going beyond anecdotal evidence to try to elucidate biomarkers: what are the mechanisms of action of compounds in specialty crops that help them to interact with human therapeutic targets and counteract disease? What are these bioactive phytochemicals or “phytoactives”?