It’s feeding time at Round Mountain Creamery and the farm’s 300 goats are getting hungry. The mature females will produce about 30 gallons of milk today at this small creamery in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and much of that will be turned into cheese. The artisan cheesemaking industry is growing in Western North Carolina, and … Read more
Outdoor farmers markets are finally here and local food lovers have reason to rejoice. Town squares and parking lots across the region have been transformed into community hubs for farm-fresh food and lively conversation. Neighbors and farmers chat about growing and cooking local food, and families dance and clap their hands as bluegrass music floats … Read more
Picking out seeds is one of the joys of spring. Flipping through a seed catalogue and dreaming of the summer’s harvest is a highlight of the season for farmers and home gardeners. Yet many seeds from major national companies are grown by farmers in California and Oregon, places with different soil, pests, and diseases than … Read more
Consumer interest in grassfed beef is on the rise. National studies indicate that the demand for grassfed beef has grown at an annual rate of 25-30% over the past 10 years, and local markets are stepping up. Bass Hyatt raises cattle at the Hyatt homeplace in Brasstown, North Carolina. His multi-generational farm has adapted its … Read more
Have you ever wondered what farmers do all winter? Even when the soil is too cold or muddy to be worked or the animals slow down production, there is still plenty of work to be done. In fact much of the business of farming happens this time of year. More than 200 farmers, food buyers, … Read more
Picture yourself standing in Asheville during the 1820s. In the fall, you’d likely see hundreds or even thousands of hogs, turkeys, and ducks walking through downtown on the Drover’s Road. Farmers from western North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky herded their livestock right through town on the way to markets further south. “The thought of thousands … Read more
Imagine getting a big box of veggies every week, no shopping required. Skip the line at the grocery store and forget about checking calories. A CSA is a way to simplify eating and cooking, where the freshest local produce is at your fingertips each week. Community Supported Agriculture – or a CSA – is like … Read more
Have you ever wondered why there are so many small family farms here? In other parts of the country larger-scale commercial operations line the highways with hundreds, or even thousands, of acres of a single crop, so why not here? In the Southern Appalachians, many farms are flanked by tall mountains and low lying rivers. … Read more
Winter markets are bustling this year. Crowds of people come together each weekend at markets across the region, including the Asheville City Market where towers of fresh veggies greet the community when they walk through the door. Market manager Mike McCreary estimates that sales and attendance at the indoor winter market have doubled since last … Read more
Imagine a place where farmers and buyers join forces. Relationships are forged, connections are made, and a locally-sourced meal joins everyone together. This place is not a figment of our local food-loving imaginations. It happens right here every winter at ASAP’s Business of Farming conference. The conference is a place for new and established farmers … Read more