Certifying your farm as Appalachian Grown is the best way to learn about and access ASAP’s services for farms. By becoming Appalachian Grown, your farm receives updates from ASAP, may use Appalachian Grown packaging materials and branding, can be listed in ASAP’s Local Food Guide, and is part of a larger network of farmers in the southern Appalachian region. ASAP offers the following services and resources for farmers and producers at all stages of starting and running a business.
Disaster Assistance
ASAP’s core services are designed to assist farmers at all times, including during disaster recovery or resilience planning. Here are some specific ways ASAP is helping farms navigate recovery from Hurricane Helene:
- We offer free one-on-one consultations to help farmers with evolving needs, including helping to identify and apply for relevant disaster relief programs.
- Regular workshops, conferences, and farmer working groups center around disaster recovery and resilience planning. These opportunities allow farmers to connect with peers and learn from subject experts.
- Tools, resources, and connections for farmers about grants and recovery resources as they becomes available, including regional, state, and federal programs for farms.
- Dual-benefit programs that work to give community members access to fresh, local food, which at the same time increases market opportunities for farms. This includes farmers market programs like Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription, as well as Appalachian Farms Feeding Families, which connects farms with schools, early care and education centers, and restaurants.
ASAP sends information about these opportunities through our Appalachian Grown farmer email list. Make sure your farm is part of ASAP’s Appalachian Grown network in order to stay up to date on these opportunities. If you are an Appalachian Grown certified farm, but are not receiving these emails, please contact Local Food Campaign Program Coordinator Kelsie Rothwell, krothwell@asapconnection.org, to make sure your contact information is correct.
Training and Support
Farmer Consultations: ASAP offers Appalachian Grown farmers free, one-on-one consultations to discuss market opportunities, marketing, and business planning. We are sometimes able to connect farmers for consulting with partner agencies on managing farm financials and mitigating risk as well.
Business of Farming Conference: ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference, held annually in February, brings together professional farmers from across the Southeast region to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers learn about marketing, business planning, and financial management from experts and innovative peers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession.
Workshops: ASAP facilitates workshops and networking sessions, both in person and virtual, for farmers throughout the year. Topics have included social media marketing, financial recordkeeping, navigating federal support programs, and more. An agritourism workshop is offered annually, typically in August before ASAP’s Farm Tour.
Farmer Working Groups: ASAP periodically convenes small cohorts or working groups of farmers around affinities or interests, including new farmers, climate resilience, and consumer marketing research. These groups are an opportunity for deeper support and peer-sharing. Findings are used to develop or adapt ASAP’s resources, including the Farmer Toolkit. Participation in working groups is typically by invitation or nomination.
Informational Resources
Farmer Toolkit: ASAP’s Farmer Toolkit offers an overview of available support and resources on business planning, market outlets, and marketing. This is a must-read for farmers just starting out. The Toolkit is available for free online and in print as part of registration for the Business of Farming Conference.
Email Updates: ASAP sends monthly emails to certified Appalachian Grown farmers with grant opportunities, upcoming workshops presented by ASAP or partner agencies, and other relevant resources. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact Kelsie Rothwell.
Classified Ads and Events Calendar: ASAP offers free classified ads and events calendar for items or happenings related to local food and farms. Browse offered or wanted classified ads or post your own. Advertise your farm events or discover events you’d like to attend.
Market Opportunities
Farmer-Buyer Connections: Both farmers and buyers can use the Wholesale Local Food Guide, an online directory of restaurants, distributors, grocers, artisan producers, and other buyers looking to purchase from farms, as well as farms selling wholesale. The wholesale guide is searchable by location, product, and other details. Farmers and buyers may also reach out to Local Food Campaign staff to discuss what you are looking for and what connections would be a good fit. ASAP can also provide guidance for farms interested in selling to schools or Early Care and Education (ECE) centers.
Grower-Buyer Meetings: Grower-Buyer Meetings are a chance for farmers and producers to introduce themselves to grocers, distributors, and chefs and discuss products and potential interest. For growers who are just getting started, this is a great opportunity to learn about individual buyer requirements. ASAP hosts an annual Grower-Buyer Meeting at the Business of Farming Conference as well as periodic smaller meetings for specific regions or markets.
Branding and Marketing
Local Food Guide: Offered in print and online, the free guide is the go-to resource for local food supporters. This online guide offers a searchable database for customers looking for farms, products, and area businesses featuring local food. More than 50,000 copies of the print edition are distributed annually throughout the region, providing you the opportunity to highlight your business through a listing or display ad.
Appalachian Grown Branding: Use the Appalachian Grown logo to identify your products as local. Certified farms may download the Appalachian Grown logo in a variety of formats and colors for use in custom marketing and packaging.
Packaging Materials: ASAP offers a bulk purchasing program for Appalachian Grown–branded packaging materials. View and order materials online for pickup at ASAP’s office or delivery by mail.
Community Engagement Events
CSA Fair and CSA Month: In February and March, ASAP promotes CSA education and now to find CSA farms, culminating in a CSA Fair where the public can meet farmers who operate CSA programs.
Farm Tour: ASAP coordinates a regional farm tour every summer, typically made up of 20 farms divided into geographic clusters. Counties included on the tour rotate each year, but are typically limited to areas within a one-hour drive of Asheville. Appalachian Grown farms located within the tour’s target region are invited to apply each year.