I grew up in Lenoir, where this farm is located. I never knew it existed. Incidentally, Lenoir is also the location of one of Google's data centers. The main industry in Lenoir was furniture manufacturing for a long time but most of that dried up in the 90s. I'm glad to see businesses investing there again.

Depending on your age, it very well may not have existed then! :) The article says Atlantic's first hatchlings went in around 2005.

I wonder if this will end up like most salmon, trout, and catfish these days - fatty, tasteless, corn-fed garbage. I used to love fish; these days the fish stocks are either threatened ocean-caught species or the typical farm-raised product which is simply awful.

How can it be Russian caviar when it's been farmed in the US?

From the Russian sturgeon. Which is the name of a fish derived from it's native home. Similar to Mexican food being served in the US. Or a Galapagos tortoise born in captivity in the US (just an example, no idea if it's happened) remaining a Galapagos tortoise.

Possibly the same way that -- from the body of the article -- fish can be "literally" dinosaurs.

But, more likely "Russian caviar" is being used as a term for caviar from the Russian sturgeon (Ossetra).

A great (related) read: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1H8C