Toolkit Contents
ASAP’s Appalachian Grown Farmer Toolkit, updated in September 2022, offers an overview of available support and resources on business planning and marketing. View or download the free digital version above or navigate directly to what you’re looking for from the table of contents below. Contact ASAP about print copy availability.
Business and Market Planning
- Business Plan Overview
- Regional Support Agencies for Farm Business Planning
- The Regulatory Environment for Farms in WNC
- Market Opportunities for Farmers
- Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets
- CSA Toolkit
- Agritourism and Farm Tour Guide
- Guide to Selling Wholesale
- Tips for Buyers and Producers
Branding and Marketing
Additional Resources
The documents, tools, and workshop recordings linked below, from ASAP and partner organizations, expand on the resources included in the Farmer Toolkit.
Business Planning
- The North Carolina Small Business Center Network offers a number of agribusiness programs at no cost. Find a full list here.
- Find Land with WNC Farm Link
- First Few Steps (NC Cooperative Extension PDF)
- Should crop insurance be part of your farm’s risk management plan? (ASAP workshop, 2015)
Accessing Capital
- Loans are the most common way to finance a farm or a farm expansion. ASAP has helped farmers connect with several lenders, including Carolina Farm Credit, Self-Help, Natural Capital Investment Fund, and the USDA.
- Mountain BizWorks offers microloans and can help you with loan packaging and connections to other lenders.
- The Farmer’s Guide To Agricultural Credit (RAFI) walks you through the different types of agricultural loans and helps you understand the criteria that lenders consider when reviewing loan applicants.
Farm Financials
- Basics to Recordkeeping (RAFI PDF)
- Insurance Basics (NC Cooperative Extension PDF)
- Setting Prices for Various Markets (ASAP PDF)
- Mud to Money – Farm Financials Benchmark Report (ASAP PDF)
- How to Pay for it—Grant, Loan, and Cost Share Options for Farms (ASAP workshop, 2015)
- AgriLogic’s MARS App – Recordkeeping Tool
Direct Sales
- Check out ASAP’s farmers markets page for places to sell your products throughout the Southern Appalachians.
- Roadside Farm Stands (University of California Santa Cruz PDF)
- Sell What You Grow – Diversifying Your Market Opportunities (ASAP workshop, 2015)
- Sell More At Farmer’s Markets (ASAP workshop, 2013)
Agritourism
- One of the best ways to learn about agritourism is to visit other farms that host tours and visitors. Join ASAP for our annual Farm Tour.
- Activity Ideas for Hosting Children and School Groups on Your Farm (PDF)
- Agritourism Liability Law (NC Department of Agriculture PDF)
- Farmer Classroom Visits (ASAP PDF)
- Farmer Field Day Toolkit (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education PDF)
- Growing your Agritourism Venture (ASAP, Mountain Bizworks, and USDA Slidshare)
- Hosting School Groups on Your Farm (ASAP PDF)
- Integrating Safety into Agritourism (National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety)
- Planning U-Pick (Center for Profitable Agriculture and UT Cooperative Extension PDF)
Wholesale and Retail
- ASAP’s Wholesale Local Food Guide is regularly updated with new products that wholesale buyers are seeking in the Southern Appalachians.
- Produce Packaging Standards (ASAP PDF)
- Product Codes for Retail Grocers (NC Growing Together PDF)
- Selling to Intermediate Markets (Wisconsin Local Food Marketing Guide PDF)
- Tips for Selling to Restaurants (National Center for Appropriate Technology PDF)
The Farmer Toolkit and other resources are supported in part by:
