2/25–2/27THURSDAY–SATURDAY |
Business of Farming ConferenceOur annual farmer conference will go virtual in 2021 to safely bring together professional farmers to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers learn about marketing, business planning, and management from regional experts and innovative farmers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers, and those seriously considering farming as a profession. Register and find out more. |
3/10WEDNESDAY |
CSA FairThe 2021 CSA Fair will be held virtually. Talk with area CSA farmers and learn about receiving a weekly box of fresh farm products. Sign up for a CSA program or just come to learn about Community Supported Agriculture. Free, but registration is required. |
Upcoming Events
This Week on Growing Local Radio
From Stocks and Bonds to Squash and Beets
Frances Juhlin from Candy Mountain Farm remembers the tension of her first career. It was the 1980s in Palm Beach, Florida and Frances was an assistant at a high-powered brokerage firm. READ MORE
Growing Local airs on WNCW on Mondays during Morning Edition at 8:45 am, featuring the local food and farm stories we discover through our Local Food Research Center. Past broadcasts are archived on our website and can be heard on SoundCloud or iTunes.
Fresh at Farmers Markets This Week
What’s Fresh Feb. 19-25
As a new flock of hens starts to lay, their first eggs are smaller, with firmer whites and more deeply colored yolks, than regular eggs. Not to be dismissed, these pullet eggs boast a richer flavor and creamier texture. For the next few weeks, these will be the only eggs available from Dry Ridge Farm at the ASAP Farmers Market . It’s a great chance to try something truly unique to farmers markets, as grocery stores stick to uniform, regulation sizes. READ MORE
Recent Reports from the Local Food Research Center
2020 Appalachian Grown Producer Survey Report
February 2021: In ASAP’s mission to support Southern Appalachian farms and build a local food system, we developed the Appalachian Grown (AG) branding program in 2007 with the goal of expanding local market opportunities for farmers by providing a way for the public to easily identify products from local farms. We send a survey to all AG farms annually to assess the impact of program services and support and gather feedback to shape the program’s future direction. In addition, this year’s survey contained a new section specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report contains the findings from the survey sent to 775 Appalachian Grown farmers in November of 2020.
Double SNAP Impact on Shoppers and Farmers in WNC
January 2021: In October of 2020, a survey was shared with farmers markets participating in ASAP’s Double SNAP program to assess the impact and gather feedback. The Double SNAP program doubles the value of a shopper’s SNAP benefits used at market. The survey was open for six weeks and collected 113 responses from market managers, vendors, and customers. A quarter of the responses came from shoppers who have utilized the SNAP program and a third were from farmers market vendors. Market managers from all eight markets who offer the program also responded. ASAP’s Local Food Research Center has identified trends and impacts of the Double SNAP program. Read the press release about the report.
COVID-19: Impact on Southern Appalachian Farmers and Vendors Selling to Direct Markets
March 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closure of restaurants, schools, events, and in some places, disruption of farmers markets, is having an immediate and potentially devastating impact on farmers and vendors selling to local markets in the Southern Appalachians. In order to better understand these experiences and how to best support these farm and food businesses, ASAP surveyed the farmers and vendors in their network. Read the press release about the report.