This report presents the findings of an analysis of Census of Agriculture data to assess changes that occurred to food and farms in Western North Carolina (WNC) in relation to the “tobacco buyout” and to an effort to build a more localized food and farming economy.  In WNC, the mid-1990s marked the beginning of a significant period of transition in agriculture. After more than 70 years as the dominant cash crop for farmers, production of burley tobacco was entering a period of sharp decline. Anticipating the economic and cultural impacts the loss of tobacco would have on communities, a group of farmers and citizens launched a local food campaign in 2000 to provide farmers with alternatives.

In this report, WNC is a 20-county region in the Appalachian region of North Carolina that consistently grew burley tobacco under the federal quota and price support program. Nine of the 20 counties, which are the focus of the analysis, accounted for the majority of tobacco production prior to the buyout. The analysis, which used data from the 1997 to 2012 censuses, shows significant shifts in agriculture related to tobacco and food production for local markets. Though the region experienced a dramatic loss of farms with the end of tobacco, the census period just after the 2004 buyout shows the region’s farm loss leveled off with a rate far less than the state and US loss rates. The data suggest that as tobacco declined production for local markets increased with an increase in production of fruits and vegetables and in the value of direct sales.

Full Report: The End of Tobacco and the Rise of Local Food in Western North Carolina

This report presents the findings of a study that examined the interactions farmers and consumers are having at farmers markets in Western North Carolina on the topic of farmer growing methods. Overall, findings show that farmers markets are places where shoppers expect to find sustainably grown food. Results also point to the larger role of farmers markets in local food system building and the opportunity farmers have, in sharing production practices, to build customer relations and demand for their product in other retail environments. Additional findings point to the challenges of communicating about growing practices at farmers markets and, from this, the need for farmers to be deliberate in their communication strategies and the need to enhance consumer literacy of growing methods.

Summary Report – The Influence of Farmer-Customer Interactions at Farmers Markets on Farmer Growing Practices

Full Report – The Influence of Farmer-Customer Interactions at Farmers Markets on Farmer Growing Practices

This report contains the findings of the 2016 Appalachian Grown Producer Survey sent to all AG certified farms in February 2017. The purpose of this survey was to better understand the experiences of producers in the region and to gather feedback to be used to shape the future direction of the Appalachian Grown program.