As a community, how can we remove the systematic and systemic practices that perpetuate poverty and reduce food system equity? There is no single solution; however, a number of organizations in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties devote themselves to tackling the underlying causes of inequity and provide assistance to tens of thousands of … Read more
For over two decades, Mountain BizWorks has helped small business owners in WNC. As a nonprofit community development financial institution, Mountain BizWorks provides training, coaching, and financing to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This includes family farms and food business entrepreneurs, both of whom are important to the small business community and economic development … Read more
The tagline of Asheville-based grocery store Katuah Market says it all: “Local By Nature.” A locally owned and community-oriented natural food store in Biltmore Village, Katuah Market has a mission to promote local farms and the food they produce, as well as other locally made items. The store’s commitment to the local community can be … Read more
From the very beginning, ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has undertaken its work from the perspective that building local food systems should be a democratic, grassroots process where engaged citizens actively create the food system that best serves everyone in the community. While the infrastructure of food production, processing, delivery, preparation, sale, consumption, and disposal … Read more
Farm to school is a set of educational activities that includes school gardens, local food cooking classes and demonstrations, farm field trips, and the serving of local food in school cafeterias. Farm to school helps keep local farms in business with additional market opportunities. Incorporating local products into school meals also helps keep dollars in … Read more
One farm family working to sustain farmland and feed our WNC communities are the Stepps of Stepp’s Plants. Stepp’s is a third-generation farm in Flat Rock (Henderson County). They grow and sell bedding plants, vegetable plants, hanging baskets, roses, shrubs, and fresh asparagus in the spring. During the summer and fall, they grow raspberries, blackberries, … Read more