Archives: Growing Local Radio Broadcasts

For the past 20 years, The Community Table has provided nutritious food to residents of Jackson County, North Carolina, including seniors, people with disabilities, children, and working families. Paige Christie, executive director of The Community Table, says they’ve seen a 30 percent increase in new clients since COVID-19 started. Before the pandemic, The Community Table … Read more

For the past several years, agritourism has been on the rise for Appalachian farms. Farmers have built cabins and converted barns into rentals where vacationers can stay at the farm, eat fresh local food, and enjoy farm activities. The number of Appalachian Grown farms in Western North Carolina that offer lodging has increased from 27 … Read more

It takes farms of all sizes to create a thriving food system. Here in Western North Carolina, some farms sell directly to customers through farmers markets and community supported agriculture. There are also larger-scale local farms that use food distributors to get produce from their fields to nearby restaurants and grocery stores.  Today, we’ll focus … Read more

When even established farms are struggling during COVID-19, what’s it like to start a new farm? When we spoke with Stephanie Vinat of The AppaLatin Farmstead in February, she was full of enthusiasm for the year ahead. “We’re in Marshall, North Carolina and we’re new farmers so this will be our first season at market. … Read more

When COVID-19 hit, many universities and community colleges pivoted to online learning. While some courses are a natural fit for e-learning, there are other majors that benefit from in-person training, like early childhood education. “When I first heard that early childhood programs at the community colleges were online, that made me really sad, initially. How … Read more

Evan Chender had big plans for 2020. For the past four years he has grown edible flowers and specialty greens for restaurants in Asheville and Atlanta under the name The Culinary Gardener. He hired employees, purchased a four-acre piece of property in the Reems Creek Valley, and planted high-value specialty greens like agretti and ice … Read more

Restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 have caused major disruptions for farmers. The closure and delay of many farmers markets combined with restrictions on North Carolina restaurants have left farmers with many immediate needs, including where to sell crops that were already planted. “All the marketing channels that we were used to had closed … Read more

Chefs and farmers have always worked together to feed the community. These partnerships are more important than ever during COVID-19, especially for community members who have lost their jobs or are facing a greater risk of food insecurity. Several local chefs, farmers, and organizations are banding together to provide people with high-quality, farm-fresh meals. Before … Read more

Spring is a pivotal time for farmers and food producers who rely on direct sales. While each season comes with challenges and opportunities, spring can feel like a leap of faith. Farmers start new crops, artisan food producers plan production schedules, and they all look forward to income from the first farmers markets. This year, … Read more