Growing Local: Recent Episodes
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
Growing Local is a weekly audio series about local food and farms in the Southern Appalachians. It airs during Morning Edition on WNCW 88.7 each Monday at 8:50 a.m. Produced by ASAP, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.
A group of Hispanic farmers is coming together in Henderson County to start the Tierra Fertil Coop. Founding member Delia Jovel shares her journey from growing up in El Salvador to farming in Western North Carolina, and explains the coop’s collective vision for fostering social equity through local food.
Farm stands throughout Western North Carolina are opening up for the season and farmers can’t wait to welcome folks back. Hear about the roadside stands at Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview and SMM Farms in Hayesville in this episode of Growing Local.
Agriculture has been a pillar of Cherokee communities for generations and continues to be an important part of indigenous culture today. Visit Kituwah, the Mother Town of the Cherokee people, and hear about the significance of this community farm in this week’s Growing Local.
Spring vegetables are hitting farmers markets and chefs are using seasonal produce to celebrate. Hear why Chef J Chong is excited for spring markets in this week’s Growing Local.
ASAP’s Local Food Research Center surveyed farmers about their response to COVID-19 and found that overcoming challenges at the beginning of the pandemic gave farmers reason to be optimistic in 2021.
Many farmers work part or full-time jobs off the farm while also growing food and running a farm business. Hear Melissa Harwin from Highgate Farm reflect on her years of being a nurse and farmer, and learn how Hayley Creasman and Colby Buchanan balance multiple jobs while working with their family at Creasman Farms.
When Jona Felts lived in Costa Rica, he was surrounded by hot peppers and banana vinegar—the perfect ingredients for farm-fresh hot sauce. When he came back to the mountains of North Carolina, he figured out how to grow similar ingredients at Open Ridge Farm so he could use a little heat to sustain the farm through winter.
Community Supported Agriculture brings the best of a local farm to your kitchen. Wondering what to do with the bounty? Many CSA farms include recipes and cooking tips, like Encompass Farm, which shares fun and easy meal ideas that highlight that week’s veggie box.
Many farms offer vegetable and fruit CSAs, but as Community Supported Agriculture becomes more popular, some farms are thinking outside the produce drawer. Hear about CSAs that include flowers, meat, and more, and why Daffodil Spring Farm offers the classic combo of meat and potatoes.
Frances Juhlin’s path to farming took her through the cutthroat world of commodity trading. Hear how this former stock broker’s assistant got back to her roots growing produce at Candy Mountain Farm.
One of the hardest parts of expanding a business is finding trusted collaborators. Hear why the founder of Well Seasoned Table came to ASAP’s Business of Farming conference last year to connect with new farmers who will supply her seasonings company with local ingredients.
A thriving food system depends on local collaborations and personal relationships. Hear why Emily Copus from Carolina Flowers and Zadie’s Market aims to create agricultural job opportunities in Western North Carolina and how she’ll connect with other farmers and food producers at ASAP’s Business of Farming conference.
Three generations of the Creasman family have grown apples in Henderson County, North Carolina. Hear how Creasman Farms has evolved over the years and why they consider the whole community part of their family.
In 2017, Looking Glass Creamery took on a massive challenge of buying a dairy farm, learning how to care for the herd, and moving their cheesemaking operation to Columbus, NC. Hear how this family farm fared in a Growing Local update.
Looking Glass Creamery is known for its award-winning cheese, but in 2017 they decided to get closer to the source of their milk by buying Harmon Dairy. Hear how the Harmon brothers are teaching the cheesemakers how to milk the cows and manage the farm in this episode of Growing Local.
Have you ever wondered how farmers markets offer local produce even when temperatures dip below freezing? Hear about some of the season extension techniques farmers use to grow fresh food through the winter in this episode of Growing Local.
Tobacco barns hug the curves of many rural roads in Madison County, NC. Hear how these stalwarts of the past are being honored by the Appalachian Barn Alliance and how Root Bottom Farm transformed their old tobacco barn into a beacon of local food. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Barn Alliance.
Tobacco farming was once the backbone of agriculture in many parts of Western North Carolina. We look back at the culture that grew alongside tobacco and how communities are changing as farming moves to new crops.
As 2020 comes to a close, Molly Nicholie, program director of ASAP’s Local Food Campaign, reflects on the year and how we can support farmers in 2021.
Harold and Nancy Long grow heirloom seeds on their 40-acre farm in Murphy, North Carolina. Hear how they support and sustain Cherokee agricultural traditions each fall.
Fraser fir trees thrive in Western North Carolina and are often called the Cadillac of Christmas trees. Learn what it takes to grow these iconic trees in this week’s Growing Local.
2020 was a challenging year for farmers markets. Hear how farmers market managers worked together to provide safe places for the community to shop for local food.
With the holidays around the corner, some local farmers are stepping out of the soil and into the kitchen. Gather around the table to hear how farmers from Tumbling Shoals Farm, TK Family Farm, and Candy Mountain Farm celebrate the season.
Local farmers have been working all year to bring a fall feast to your table. Meet the farmers who grew the bounty on your Thanksgiving plate in this episode of Growing Local.
TK Family Farm is named for the family’s three “knucklehead” kids, but they’re not joking around when it comes to farming. Hear about their trellised apple orchard in Polk County, NC and why patience is key to their farm’s success.
Community Supported Agriculture was a popular option when the pandemic began in March. Hear why farms saw an influx of members and how they adjusted their CSAs to meet demand.
Farmers markets are a little different during a pandemic, but having fun with local food is still going strong. Hear how the Transylvania Farmers Market and ASAP are finding creative ways to offer market activities online.
The food pantry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marion, NC has seen a significant increase in people seeking nutritious food during the pandemic. Hear how Ol’ Turtle Farm is contributing to the health of the community by participating in ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program.
Trout are picky creatures that require precise temperatures, protein-rich food, and excellent water quality to thrive. Hear how Sunburst Trout Farms, a third-generation family farm, works in harmony with nature to farm and process rainbow trout.
Workplace CSAs are picking up steam as employers seek out ways to support the health of their employees. Hear about the City of Asheville’s pilot CSA program and how it’s impacting city staff and the farmers from Mighty Gnome Market Garden (formerly known as Stonecrop Garden).
Seasonal and migrant farmworkers are vital to the food system in Western North Carolina, often working late into the night to harvest fruits and vegetables for local grocery stores. Hear how the nonprofit healthcare organization Vecinos is supporting their health during COVID-19.
Sheep are tri-purpose animals that produce milk, meat, and wool. While many larger sheep farms produce only dairy, Grassroots Farm and Dairy in Marshall, North Carolina bucks the trend by offering cuts of lamb and wool bedding in addition to milk and yogurt.
Agritourism is picking back up again as some apple orchards invite visitors to pick apples at their farms. Hear how Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville is keeping the community safe while offering outdoor activities at the farm.
While many farm field trips and farmer visits are on hold due to the pandemic, ASAP’s Growing Minds program has a new “Meet Your Farmer” video series that lets kids experience farms from the safety of home and from the perspective of their peers.
Since 2019, Asheville City Market has offered a Double SNAP program that matches dollars spent at farmers markets through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Now, this initiative to make fresh food more accessible is expanding into several new farmers markets in Western North Carolina.
ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families initiative is now in McDowell and Caldwell counties. Hear how Red Hill Farm is collaborating with Yokefellow of Caldwell County to share the summer bounty with people in need of nutritious food.
Wehrloom Honey recently opened a new taproom in Asheville’s South Slope. Hear how the Wehr family turned a hobby into a thriving business that provides honey and mead to Graham County and now Asheville.
Indigenous people have centuries of agricultural knowledge to draw from. Hear how Cherokee communities in Western North Carolina are reviving traditions by growing their own food during COVID-19.
NC State Extension fields questions from farmers about everything from field crops to aquaculture. Hear how it expanded its services and adapted its programs in response to COVID-19.
KP Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm reconnects with his family’s rural roots by growing produce in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Food banks have experienced an influx of people seeking nutritious food during COVID-19. Hear how ASAP is connecting local farms with food relief organizations to provide fresh produce during the pandemic.
Agritourism is changing in response to COVID-19. Hear how Mountain Harvest Organics and Franny’s Farm are adapting their approach to on-farm lodging this summer.
A thriving food system depends on strong relationships between farmers. Hear how Beacon Village Farm built local partnerships while scaling up from a market garden to an organic wholesale farm.
After a year of learning how to grow vegetables on their farm in Madison County, Stephanie Vinat and Jeremiah Batla of The AppaLatin Farmstead were ready to bring Latin peppers like Aji Charapita and Ají Amarillo to farmers markets for the first time. When they lost their off-farm jobs due to the pandemic, they used that time to improve their land and connect with the community as they embarked on their first year in business.
Higher education is changing in response to COVID-19. ASAP’s Growing Minds program is providing community colleges with online resources so future educators can learn about farm to school philosophies and activities that they can share with preschoolers.
Evan Chender, aka The Culinary Gardener, grew edible flowers and specialty greens for restaurants until COVID-19 hit. Then he shifted to a CSA model where the vegetables go to home kitchens instead of restaurant plates.
Farmers in the Appalachian Grown region, including Green Toe Ground Farm and Mountain Harvest Organics, receive immediate needs grants as they adapt to operating during COVID-19.
Chefs and farmers find new ways to collaborate and feed people in need as North Carolina restaurants operate in limited capacities.
The closure and delays of multiple farmers markets prompted ASAP to create a new outdoor market in a matter of days. Hear how the market operates and why it’s more important than ever to support the local food system.
Photo credit: Camilla Calnan Photography
For over 70 years, Sunburst Trout Farms has been a mainstay of the Western North Carolina food system. Hear how this family business is adapting its processing facility and distribution methods to meet new challenges.
Countless farms in Western North Carolina changed their business models when the COVID-19 crisis hit. Hear how Dry Ridge Farm is selling pastured meat and eggs directly to consumers as restaurant sales decline.
Kids need nutritious food, even more so when schools are closed. Hear how schools in Western North Carolina are embracing local ingredients as part of their meals for kids program.
Photo credit: Buncombe County Schools Communication
The COVID-19 crisis is threatening the stability of local farms. Hear how ASAP is working to support farmers and build a resilient food system with the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund.
School and summer programs are on hold, but kids can still explore and learn with Growing Minds Day-by-Day. Hear how ASAP’s new online resource is being used in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Many family farms in Western North Carolina have changed their business models in response to COVID-19. Hear how Lee’s One Fortune Farm is connecting the community with local food in this time of crisis.
The closure of multiple farmers markets prompted ASAP to create a new outdoor market in a matter of days. Hear how the market operates and why it’s more important than ever to support the local food system.
Community Supported Agriculture brings the farmers market to you. Hear how farmers and community members got ready for the season at ASAP’s CSA Fair, which was held earlier this month when it was safe for crowds to gather.
It takes teamwork for farmers markets to thrive. Hear how market managers are gearing up for the season in this report from ASAP’s Farmers Market Summit.
When Jona Felts lived in Costa Rica, he was surrounded by hot peppers and banana vinegar—the perfect ingredients for farm-fresh hot sauce. When he came back to the mountains of North Carolina, he learned how to grow similar ingredients at Open Ridge Farm so he could use a little heat to sustain the farm through winter.
One of the hardest parts of expanding a business is finding trusted collaborators. Hear why the founder of Well Seasoned Table came to ASAP’s Business of Farming conference to connect with new farmers who will supply her seasonings company with local ingredients.
Looking forward to an abundance of fruits and veggies this year? Community Supported Agriculture brings that bounty to your kitchen each week. Find out how to sign up for a CSA, and why CSAs support farmers and healthy eating.
Tobacco barns hug the curves of most rural roads in Madison County, NC. Hear how these stalwarts of the past are being honored by the Appalachian Barn Alliance and how Root Bottom Farm transformed its old tobacco barn into a beacon of local food.
Tobacco farming was once the backbone of agriculture in many parts of Western North Carolina. We look back at the culture that grew alongside tobacco and how communities are changing as farming moves to new crops.
Photo courtesy of Appalachian Barn Alliance
How does food travel from farm to plate? One route is local wholesale distributor Mountain Food Products, which has connected farmers with chefs and home cooks since 1984. We visited its headquarters in Asheville to hear how the business has grown and learn about its CSA.
Aaron and Nicole Bradley of Colfax Creek Farm have generations of farming experience in their families. While they don’t work the same soil as Aaron’s great-great-grandparents, they carry on the family’s commitment to raising pastured livestock at the farm’s new location in Bostic, NC. Photo credit: Bright Planning
Hear how ASAP’s Growing Minds @ University program teaches dietetic interns ways to integrate local food and farms into their future careers.
Hear how the Wehr family turned a beekeeping hobby into a thriving business that provides honey and mead to Graham County, NC and beyond.
Local employers are encouraging staff to eat healthier and support local farms through workplace CSAs. Hear how the Community Supported Agriculture model works at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in Boone, NC.
Kids love kale when it's prepared with care. Join Biltmore chef Kirk Fiore for a local food taste test at North Buncombe Elementary.
When Bobby and Elsie Deal founded Deal Farms in 1951, there was no way to know if the fruit stand would weather the next 70 years. Now their grandson, Joe Deal, maintains this thriving farm in Franklin, NC, along with his wife, five kids, and extended family.
In the last installment of ASAP’s community story booth, Stephen and Judi McCrae from Greenville, SC talk about their work at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery and how they will teach their young daughter to love local food.
Harold and Nancy Long grow heirloom seeds at their 40-acre farm in Murphy, North Carolina. Hear why they maintain this tradition and how it fits into efforts to support agriculture in the Cherokee community.
Farmers markets are full of gifts this time of year. We tagged along as an Asheville local and her friend from New York City went shopping at Asheville City Market. Hear their conversations with farmers and craftspeople as they pick out holiday presents.
Come along to Winding Stair Farm in Franklin, North Carolina to hear how they raise turkeys on pasture.
Two Asheville-based chefs, Ashleigh Shanti and Philip Bollhoefer, talk about their own Thanksgiving traditions and give advice on how to enjoy a locally-sourced holiday feast.
Community member Kay West stopped by ASAP’s story booth to talk about how she explores Western North Carolina through its local restaurants and farmers markets.
A thriving food system depends on strong relationships between farmers. Hear how Beacon Village Farm built local partnerships while scaling up from a market garden to an organic wholesale farm.
Workplace CSAs are picking up steam as employers seek out ways to support the health of their employees. Hear about the City of Asheville’s pilot CSA program and how it’s impacting city staff and Stonecrop Garden farm.
Hear how Vincent and Colleen Sicca from Weaverville, North Carolina turned a family garden project into a local business in this episode of ASAP’s community story booth.
Sara Jane Davis co-founded A Way of Life Farm in 2009 and it’s been an exciting ride ever since. She talks about the childhood garden that sparked her love of growing and shares her vision for the next 10 years on her farm in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Tou and Chue Lee planted their rice fields in early spring at Lee’s One Fortune Farm in Western North Carolina. Now it’s the end of the growing season and finally time to harvest. For the most part it’s a joyous season, but this time of year also brings back memories of their struggle to escape the jungles of Laos and seek safety in the United States.
Hear rice being harvested at Lee's One Fortune Farm and learn why this crop is important to the Hmong community in Western North Carolina.
Savannah and Will Salley from Headwaters Market Garden in Alexander, North Carolina jumped head first into farming in 2017 and have learned a lot of lessons along the way. Hear how they learned how to grow produce and a farm business in our new and beginning farmer series.
We continue our community story booth series with a conversation with George Ivey from Hendersonville, NC. He talks about his work with farmland preservation and how he’s helping his son gain an appreciation for local food.
Local employers are encouraging staff to eat healthier and support local farms through workplace CSAs. Hear how the Community Supported Agriculture model works at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in Boone, NC.
Ernie Mowell grew up with a big garden in his backyard, but it wasn’t until he was stationed in Hawaii that he started to understand the food system. Hear how a lesson he learned at a pineapple factory guides his food choices today.
Apple orchards been part of the culture of Henderson County, North Carolina for hundreds of years. Yet something new is on the horizon. Hear how Alan Ward, owner of Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider, is combining tradition with innovation as he expands into apple-based spirits similar to calvados and pommeau.
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard hit a major milestone this year - 50 years of agritourism. Hear about the farm’s humble beginnings and find out what the family has planned for future generations.
Meet Suzy Phillips, owner of Gypsy Queen Cuisine, and hear how she uses local lamb to share stories about growing up in Lebanon.
Farmers markets are full of abundance this time of year, but how do farmers decide what to grow and sell? Hear how New Roots Market Garden found its place in the local food system with a wild salad mix.
The Moreno family’s farming roots stretch back to Mexico where Salvador Moreno Senior herded goats through the desert. His son, Salvador Moreno Junior, shares the story of how they started SMM Farms and became an integral part of the Hayesville, North Carolina community.
How does food travel from farms to restaurants? One route is local wholesale distributor Mountain Food Products, which has connected chefs with farmers since 1984. We visited their headquarters in Asheville on a busy summer morning.
A new program aims to increase access by doubling SNAP benefits at farmers markets in Western North Carolina.
We wrap up our ASAP Farm Tour report with a visit to Addison Farms Vineyard and Farmhouse Beef.
ASAP’s 2019 Farm Tour was a big success and reporter Jen Nathan Orris was on the scene. Hear part one of our farm tour audio travelogues in this week's episode.
During the dot com boom of the 1990s, Julie Mansfield and Carl Evans were software engineers who dreamed of starting a farm. Hear how they founded Mountain Harvest Organics nearly 20 years ago and why they share their passion for farming through agritourism.
The goats at Round Mountain Creamery are ready for ASAP's Farm Tour! Hear the sounds of the farm in this audio adventure and then visit in person June 22-23, 2019.
Jessica Spiegel of Terra Lingua Growers says she loves farming because she never stops learning. She’ll share her knowledge with the public at ASAP’s 2019 Farm Tour, June 22-23.
Come along for an audio adventure as we look back on ASAP’s 2018 Farm Tour. Find ticket information and a list farms on the 2019 tour at https://asapconnections.org/events/asaps-farm-tour/
ASAP’s 2019 Farm Tour is coming up June 22-23. Learn what motivates local farmers like Rand Gifford and what visitors can experience at Greenshine Farms on the tour.
The local food movement is built on relationships. Hear how butcher Casey McKissick from Foothills Meats partners with farmer Melissa George from Mountainside Family Farms.
Outdoor farmers markets are in full swing. Hear about activities for kids at the Mills River Farmers Market and other markets in Western North Carolina.
Some small farms are scaling up as demand for local food increases. Come along for an audio tour of Dry Ridge Farm in Mars Hill, North Carolina to hear the sounds of 2,000 birds eating local feed and scratching in the grass.
Spring is a prime time for school gardens and other farm to school activities. Hear longtime garden instructor Suzanne Wodek talk about the early days of school gardens and how she’s seen these projects evolve over the years.
Local farmers canvased West Asheville neighborhoods to pass out coupons and spread the word about the first farmers market of the season.
Farmers markets are a joy to attend, but have you thought about what it’s like to plan them every week? A recent Farmers Market Summit brought together 30 market managers to network and share resources.
The dishes at Chef Dan Silo’s forthcoming restaurant Sawhorse will combine memories of his childhood in the mountains of New York state with local ingredients grown just up the road.
Childhood memories of her family’s cows inspired Melissa George to raise livestock on pasture at Mountainside Family Farms.
How do Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar become North Carolina farmers? With the help of a longtime farmer and his neighbors. Hear how Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig of Tumbling Shoals Farm pass on that same knowledge and kindness at their farm.
Photo by Sarene Cullen
Students and teachers are gearing up for spring farm to school activities. Listen back to an afternoon at Burke County Public Schools to hear teenagers teach youngsters about local food.
Nicole Coston was inspired to start Bearwallow Valley Farms in Henderson County, North Carolina because of her grandmother’s perseverance during the Great Depression.
What does it take to start a farm in Western North Carolina? Henry Payne of Five Pine Farm in Yancey County shares his story.
Come along to a winter farmers market with Graham House, executive chef at Sovereign Remedies in Asheville, North Carolina. Go inside the mind of a chef as he picks out local produce and crafts a menu back at the restaurant.
Have you always wanted to start a garden or explore new vegetables at the farmers market? Find local food and farm educational programs on ASAP’s fromhere.org events calendar.
Meet Suzy Phillips, owner of Gypsy Queen Cuisine, and hear how she uses local lamb to share stories about growing up in Lebanon.
What’s it like to join a CSA? Meet four CSA members and learn about their experiences with Community Supported Agriculture.
Looking forward to an abundance of fruits and veggies this year? CSAs bring that bounty to your kitchen each week. Find out why the Community Supported Agriculture model supports farmers and healthy eating.
Pickens, South Carolina is a surprising place to find a tea farm, but Table Rock Tea Company is bucking international trends by growing tea in the Southern Appalachians.
Microgreens are tiny edible plants produced from vegetable and herb seeds. Find out why Sleight Family Farm decided to grow microgreens at their farm in Old Fort, North Carolina.
North Asheville residents Aimee Ellingsen and Chuck Krekelberg stopped by ASAP’s story booth to talk about how their family embraces local food.
Sara Jane Davis co-founded A Way of Life Farm in 2009 and it’s been an exciting ride ever since. She talks about the childhood garden that sparked her love of growing, and shares her vision for the next 10 years on her farm in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Farmers markets are full of gifts this time of year. We tagged along as an Asheville local and her friend from New York City went shopping at Asheville City Market. Hear their conversations with farmers and craftspeople as they pick out holiday presents.
Buying winter produce like sweet potatoes in bulk means there’s always something local in the pantry. Meet a sweet potato farmer from Fairview, North Carolina and find out why she loves this cool weather staple.
On any given Saturday, you’ll find Asheville resident Julie Montanea at the farmers market. She says it perks her up to see the beautiful food and chat with farmers. She stopped by ASAP’s story booth to talk about why she supports local food.
Tou and Chue Lee planted their rice fields in early spring at Lee’s One Fortune Farm in Western North Carolina. Now it’s the end of the growing season and finally time to harvest. For the most part it’s a joyous season, but this time of year also brings back memories of their struggle to escape the jungles of Laos and seek safety in the United States.
Hear how rice is harvested at Lee's One Fortune Farm and learn why this crop is important to the Hmong community in Western North Carolina.
Take an audio tour of Darnell Farms in Bryson City, North Carolina and meet the extraordinary family who created this agritourism destination.
We wanted to know what motivates people to eat local, so we invited community members to share their stories at ASAP's Local Food Experience event. Debbie from Asheville, North Carolina talks about teaching her kids to love local food.
Meet four generations of the Pack family and take a walk through their blackberry bushes at M& M Berry Farm in Henderson County, North Carolina.
The local food system is getting a boost from a new partnership between Lewis Creek Farm and Noble Cider. Go on an audio tour of their orchards and learn how local apples inspired a farmer and a hard cider maker to work together.
What happens to a family farm when tragedy strikes? Hear how a brother and sister came together to preserve their step-father's legacy and save Holt Orchards.
Though most of us don’t eat our recommended daily fruits and vegetables, some people face the additional challenge of eating healthy on a budget. Hear how healthcare professionals addressed this issue at ASAP’s Healthy Eating in Practice conference.
This week we’re in Asheville, North Carolina for ASAP’s Healthy Eating in Practice conference. Hear a hands-on cooking class and learn why health care professionals from across the country came here to learn about food, farms, and health.
In the final episode of our Women in Agriculture series, we drive up to Madison County, North Carolina to meet Emily Patrick of Carolina Flowers.
This week in our Women in Agriculture series, we get to know a business owner who connects local farms with customers throughout the region. Andrea DuVall, co-owner of Mother Earth Produce, is an important link in the local food chain, so we stopped at her warehouse in Asheville, North Carolina to see how food gets from farmers’ hands to customers’ plates.
Women are at the forefront of a revolution in how food is grown for local markets. In the coming weeks, we will profile four leaders in the local food system, starting with Cassandra Bare who grows produce on nearly 300 acres at Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis, North Carolina.
Bradley Johnston is a third-generation farmer whose family has seen dramatic changes in the local dairy industry since his grandfather started selling milk directly to the public in 1917. Take an audio trip to Mills River Creamery’s milking parlor to learn why Johnston is looking to the past to shape the future.
Our food supply depends on farmworkers. The physically demanding job of planting, harvesting, and processing food puts farmworkers at risk for acute injury and chronic disease, yet they often have limited access to healthcare. Learn how Vecinos, a nonprofit organization in Western North Carolina, is helping farmworkers and their families access healthcare.
It might seem like a doctor’s office is the opposite of a farm. Think of a sterile exam room filled with medical equipment—a place where dirt is definitely not welcome. But for physician Dr. Daphne Miller, what happens in the exam room is directly linked to agriculture, from the microbes in the soil to the nutrition of the food itself.
Dr. Miller will give the keynote address at ASAP’s Healthy Eating in Practice conference, held August 26-29 in Asheville, NC. Tickets and info: www.healthyeatinginpractice.org
When you visit Balsam Garden’s farm in East Asheville you can hear the sounds of birds overhead, but also the rush of a major highway that’s hidden behind a row of trees. That juxtaposition reflects the versatility of this land—and an unusual partnership between local farmers and the City of Asheville, which owns the property. Take an audio trip to this “secret little gem” of a farm.
Ever wondered how a tomato gets from the field to a grocery store shelf? Take a behind-the-scenes trip to the Ingles Markets distribution center, then find out why local farmer William Shelton grows summer produce for the grocery chain.
There’s a little bit of magic in a fresh-picked blueberry—sweet and still warm from the sun. Hear why farmers from Perry’s Berries in Morganton, North Carolina invite the community to pick berries on their farm. Learn how to visit them and other u-pick farms at www.appalachiangrown.org
Have you ever been to summer camp with a pig named Doughnut? Farm camps are becoming popular across the country, especially in Western North Carolina. Hear a gaggle of kids pick berries, taste edible flowers, and learn how to feed the pigs at Franny’s Farm Camp in Leicester.
More than 1,000 people visited local farms on ASAP’s Farm Tour in June, and the sounds of farms at work were heard throughout Western North Carolina. Listen to behind-the-scenes tours of Smoking J’s Fiery Foods, L.O.T.U.S. Urban Farm, and Venezia Dream Farm Alpacas. Then go to Mills River Creamery to hear the reaction from the crowd when a calf is born before their eyes. See photos at www.instagram.com/asapconnections
Doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals are working to change the culture of healthcare by focusing on preventing diseases as well as treating them. Leaders in the field will gather in Asheville August 26-29 for a new conference called Healthy Eating in Practice. Learn more and register for the conference at www.healthyeatinginpractice.org
Carolyn Bradley is a fifth generation farmer with a passion for agriculture. Visit her 130-acre farm on ASAP’s Farm Tour and learn how Carolyn and her husband Mike raise grassfed beef. Tickets: asapconnections.org/events/asaps-farm-tour
“This is probably going to be the hardest year for us, but we’re going to keep it going for the kids and for the community,” says Alyssa Moreno of SMM Farms in Hayesville. Hear how farmers are recovering from the floods that raged through Western North Carolina this spring, and learn how to support them on ASAP’s Farm Tour.
Want to feed a bison and see a herd of horned cattle up close? Visit Dr. King’s Farms on ASAP’s Farm Tour on June 23 and 24, 2018. In this week’s episode, Dr. Frank King talks about the exotic animals that roam his farmland beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Come along on a farm to school road trip as high schoolers from Burke County, North Carolina lead a local strawberry taste test with kids from Hillcrest Elementary School.
During the dot com boom of the 1990s, Julie Mansfield and Carl Evans were software engineers who dreamed of starting a farm. At first they juggled their corporate careers and their agricultural aspirations, but soon realized that farming couldn’t be a weekend job. Hear how they founded Mountain Harvest Organics and what’s next in their farming journey.
Rebecca Collins and Steven Kinsella are passionate about eating local and improving the food system. We caught up with them at ASAP’s Local Food Experience to talk about why they support local farms and culinary culture in the Southern Appalachians.
The Moreno family’s farming roots stretch back to Mexico where Salvador Moreno Senior herded goats through the desert. His son, Salvador Moreno Junior, shares the story of how they started SMM Farms and became an integral part of the Hayesville, North Carolina community.
Playing music after supper with family and neighbors is an Appalachian tradition. For farmer and musician Barry Bales, it was the beginning of his Grammy Award-winning career. Hear how the hills of Tennessee lured him back to the family farm, and listen to an original song about his journey that he recorded for this episode.
Come along to the opening day of the outdoor Asheville City Market. Meet farmers, customers, and vendors as they kick off the outdoor market season!
Robert Russell once spent his days in the hallowed halls of universities, but now you’re more likely to find him fixing up an old barn. He’s starting French Broad Creamery in Leicester, North Carolina and will sell fresh chèvre and aged goat cheeses in the near future. Listen to the first chapter of his journey to become a farmer.
The outdoor Asheville City Market starts on April 7, 2018 and now you can sip samples of mead while you shop. Learn about local mead maker Wehrloom Honey and how owner Aron Wehr is expanding his reach by vending at Asheville City Market for the first time.
Much of the tea sold in the U.S. travels thousands of miles before it’s served over ice on the back porch. Table Rock Tea Company is growing a local alternative, and working with other farmers to help Pickens, South Carolina become a hot spot of tea farming.
Wendy Painter and Amanda Gentry are trying something new with their farm business, Mountain Popcorn Girls. Find out how neighbors have reacted to seeing popcorn on their fifth generation farm, and why home-grown popcorn brings back memories for their customers.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to join the local food movement. Listen as we follow a farmer and community member through the seasons to hear how CSAs impact their lives. ASAP’s 2018 CSA Fair is Thursday, March 15th at New Belgium Brewing Company in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s free and open to the public. www.asapconnections.org
Photo credit: Chelsea Lane Photography
It’s time to pick out seeds for spring, but which ones are right for your garden? Learn about regionally adapted seeds from the folks at Sow True Seed in Asheville, and check out other seed companies like Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Greenville County Schools and other local districts are on a mission to reinvent school lunches. Farmer Steve Whitmire and Joe Urban, the district’s food and nutrition services director, talk about adding local Brasstown Beef to the school’s cafeteria trays.
Come along to a winter farmers market with Graham House, executive chef at Sovereign Remedies in Asheville, North Carolina. Go inside the mind of a chef as he picks out local produce and creates a menu back at the restaurant.
Imagine growing and harvesting hundreds of acres of grain. Would you have time to run a vegetable CSA and a farmers market at local preschools? Brian Chatham balances both at High Mountain Farms in Ashe County, North Carolina.
Apple orchards been part of the culture of Henderson County, North Carolina for hundreds of years. Yet something new is on the horizon. Hear how Alan Ward, owner of Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider, is combining tradition with innovation as he expands into apple-based spirits similar to calvados and pommeau.
Appalachian families have harvested ginseng for generations. Find out why this “green gold” is so valuable, and learn about recent efforts to connect ginseng growers with local markets.
Stephanie Poetter of Locally Good Farm in Burnsville started making apple cider vinegar for her family and friends about four years ago. Hear how she turned her hobby into a thriving business with the help of the local community.
Find Locally Good Farm apple cider vinegar: www.locallygoodfarm.com Find local farmers markets: www.appalachiangrown.org
Sleight Family Farm near Old Fort, North Carolina is growing a farm business by growing microgreens. Hear how local farmers markets have helped sustain their family business.
Interested in growing your own farm business? Check out ASAP’s Business of Farming conference on February 24, 2018. www.asapconnections.org
It’s time for New Year’s resolutions and eating more fruits and vegetables is at the top of many people’s lists. It’s a goal that Biltmore chef Kirk Fiore shared with children at North Buncombe Elementary school as they taste tested local kale.
It takes an entire community to change the food system. Join the local food movement today by supporting our nonprofit organization: www.asapconnections.org
M&M Berry Farm started as an apple orchard, but over the years they joined the community of blackberry farmers in Henderson County, North Carolina. Hear four generations of the Pack family talk about the challenges and rewards of running their family farm.
Picking out a Christmas tree is a beautiful experience for families and friends. For local tree farmers, it’s the culmination of years of hard work. Jeff Owen, a Christmas tree extension specialist at NC State University, talks about fluctuations in the industry and why you might want to get your tree early this year.
Find Christmas tree farms to visit in ASAP’s Local Food Guide: www.appalachiangrown.org Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association.
Buying a big box of sweet potatoes at the beginning of the winter makes it easy to whip up local meals during the darkest days of the year. Annie Louise Perkinson from Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview, North Carolina talks about why her farm offers sweet potatoes in bulk to feed the community all winter.
Farmer Daniel Wall and business partner Jon Mercer come from different backgrounds, but together with their young families, they’ve started a livestock farm that promotes their shared commitment to sustainable agriculture.
We spoke with Daniel and Jon at ASAP’s Business of Farming conference last year. Learn about this year’s conference at http://asapconnections.org/events/business-of-farming-conference/
Visit local farmers markets to stock up on these quintessential holiday foods for a truly local Thanksgiving.
Chefs are catching on to the sweet and savory flavor of sorghum molasses, and farmers are working hard to keep up with demand. Hear chef John Fleer and farmer Cathy Guthrie talk about why sorghum is popping up at Southern Appalachian restaurants.
Bring sorghum molasses into your own kitchen and find farmers who sell it in ASAP’s Local Food Guide: www.appalachiangrown.org
Southern Appalachian families have been pouring sorghum molasses on biscuits for generations. It takes a draft horse, a wood-fired furnace, and a lot of folk knowledge to do it. Hear how two women are keeping the tradition alive.
Take an audio trip to Darnell Farms in Bryson City, North Carolina to learn how this family farm turned into a thriving agritourism hub.
Find more family farms to visit at www.appalachiangrown.org
Did you hear that sound? It’s students and teachers chomping down on fall’s crispiest fruit: the apple. Kids throughout North Carolina will celebrate National Farm to School Month with the “North Carolina Crunch” as they all take a big bite of a locally grown apple on October 24th at Noon.
Listen in on last year’s crunch to hear how preschoolers react to local food.
Next time you cozy up with a mug of tea, take a minute to consider where those herbs and leaves came from. Asheville Tea Company could source ingredients from anywhere in the world, but gets many of its herbs from Rayburn Farm just two miles away.
Listen in as farmer Michael Rayburn drops off a special delivery, and hear Jessie Dean of Asheville Tea Company blend it into loose leaf tea.
Spartanburg County School District Six embarked on a big project last year: starting its own farm. The school is already seeing results in its fields and cafeterias as farm-fresh broccoli, cabbage, and peppers arrive on lunch trays.
October is National Farm to School month. Hear two leaders of ASAP’s Growing Minds program talk about how kids can impact the local food movement.
Garlic is a powerhouse in the kitchen, but what does it take to grow these flavorful bulbs? Morgan Decker of Root Bottom Farm in Madison County, North Carolina gives us the lowdown on local garlic.
Check out the WNC Garlic Fest on Oct. 7 in Asheville to taste some weird and wonderful treats, like garlic ice cream and garlic chocolate. http://www.wncgarlicfest.com
Photo by Sarah Jones Decker
Take a trip to the Mills River farmers market to hear about local food activities for families, and meet parents and volunteers who inspire kids each week.
It’s tempting to pick every apple you find on a U-pick adventure. Don’t feel overwhelmed when you get home! Try these tips for making good use of the fruit.
There’s a hotbed of apple production hidden in the hillsides of Western North Carolina. Hear Perry Lowe III, a sixth generation orchardist, talk about apple farming traditions in the Brushy Mountains.
Children in Henderson County, North Carolina are kicking off fall in the garden with a new project that helps daycare centers teach gardening skills. The program supplements WIC's current efforts, including the demonstration garden pictured here.
Come along on an audio adventure to Franny’s Farm Camp. Hear the kids taste edible flowers and pet a pig for the first time.
Learn about more farm camps in Western North Carolina at www.appalachiangrown.org And find ideas for helping kids engage with local food and farms all year at www.growing-minds.org
Eclipse madness has hit Western North Carolina and local farms are some of the prime spots to witness this rare celestial event.
Reservations are required for an eclipse weekend Walnut Hollow Ranch in Hayesville: www.walnuthollowranch.com Or go to Darnell Farms on the morning of the 21st for a full day of food and activities. https://goo.gl/s7K3KR
The Harmon brothers are at a crossroads with their dairy. They’re getting older and don’t have kids to inherit the farm. So they made the owners of Looking Glass Creamery an offer they couldn’t refuse: buy the dairy and we’ll teach you how to run it. For the next year, the cheesemakers are living in an RV outside the Harmons’ home as they build a future together.
Eating local may seem as simple as buying tomatoes at the farmers market, but there’s a lot of theory to back up why these small acts add up to a resilient food community.
Learn about the work of ASAP’s Local Food Research Center at asapconnections.org/local-food-research-center
When berry season hits Western North Carolina, local ice cream is just around the corner. Listen in on a special delivery at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, and hear how partnerships between farmers and ice cream makers help drive the local economy.
Taste for yourself at a fundraiser for ASAP at The Hop on July 28 from 3-9pm. Special dairy and vegan flavors will highlight produce from local farms. Find out more: https://goo.gl/KnMPU2
Want to connect with local farmers? There are plenty of summertime farm to table events in Western North Carolina. Learn about a few in this podcast, and check out plenty more at www.fromhere.org
Everyone is invited to sample local dishes from chefs, artisan producers, and farming families at ASAP’s Local Food Experience on August 24th at New Belgium Brewing Company in Asheville. Tickets and info: http://asapconnections.org/events/asaps-local-food-experience/
Photo by Sarah Jones Decker, Root Bottom Farm
Ever wondered how local tomatoes get from a farmer’s hands to the grocery store shelf? Take an audio tour of the Ingles Markets distribution center and meet William Shelton, a local farmer who has been growing produce for the grocery chain for nearly 20 years.
How do Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar become North Carolina farmers? With the help of a longtime farmer and his neighbors. Hear how Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig of Tumbling Shoals Farm pass on that same knowledge and kindness at their certified organic farm.
Photo by Sarene Cullen
The community flocked to ASAP’s CSA Fair this spring and now it’s time to dig into all that farm-fresh food. We followed A Way of Life Farm in Sunshine, North Carolina through the CSA season and met some members who can’t wait to try each new fruit and veggie.
Kick off the summer road trip season on ASAP’s Farm Tour. Check out over 20 Western North Carolina farms on June 24th and 25th, 2017. Find tickets and information at www.asapconnections.org
What’s it like to run a creamery with your sisters? The women from Cane Creek Creamery in Fletcher, North Carolina share their family’s farm story during a visit to the creamery.
See for yourself at ASAP’s Farm Tour, June 24 and 25. Tickets and information: www.asapconnections.org
Curious about ASAP’s Farm Tour? Hear this audio postcard from last year’s tour and meet some of the farmers and visitors who spent a glorious summer weekend at Western North Carolina family farms.
The 2017 tour is June 24 and 25th in the Asheville area and surrounding counties. Find ticket information and learn about all the farms on the tour at www.asapconnections.org
Why would a retired nurse start a goat farm and creamery? Hear how an agricultural project with her granddaughter changed Donna Gains' way of life.
Go to High Mountain Meadows Farm and Creamery's Facebook page for updates on her farm party. www.facebook.com/HighMountainMeadowsFarm/
Photo by Sarah Jones Decker
Fresh flowers feed the soul, but where do they come from? Imported flowers are ubiquitous at florists and grocery stores, but there’s a growing movement of local farmers who cultivate blooms that thrive in the Southern Appalachian mountains.
Listen as Niki Irving of Flourish Flower Farm in Candler, North Carolina harvests poppies, and hear Katie Grear of Lady Luck Flower Farm talk about why local farmers are digging into flowers.
Craft beer isn’t the only thing on Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s menu. The taproom chef works with 17 Appalachian Grown farms to source some of the restaurant's vegetables, meat, and cheeses.
Hear how Chef Jessie Massie tracks down local ingredients and find out why Daniel Price of Freedom Farm grows produce for the restaurant.
Western North Carolina’s farming traditions stretch back for generations, but the local food movement was a new concept in the early 2000s.
Walter Harrill, owner of Imladris Farm in Fairview, North Carolina, was a pioneer during the early days. He reflects on how the movement has grown, and ASAP’s Charlie Jackson weighs in on what’s next for the local food community.
Learn more about the evolution of local food in WNC and ASAP’s Local Food Research Center: http://asapconnections.org/local-food-research-center/
Volunteering at a farm, community garden, or local food event is a great way to feel connected and use your strengths to improve the local food system. Here are some opportunities in Western North Carolina.
Area farmers markets: http://asapconnections.org/support-local-food-movement/volunteer/
ASAP’s Farm Tour: http://asapconnections.org/events/asaps-farm-tour/volunteer-for-the-tour/
The Lord’s Acre in Fairview: http://thelordsacre.org/
WNC Alliance for Gardens That Give: http://thelordsacre.org/what-we-do/community/the-western-nc-alliance-for-gardens-that-give/
School gardens: Call a school near you to inquire about helping in their garden. Or use these lesson plans to inspire your children and their friends. http://growing-minds.org/garden-lesson-plans/
Want to learn about farms in the Southern Appalachians and the stories behind your food?
ASAP’s 2017 Local Food Guide is hot off the presses and available at locations throughout the region. Find pick-up locations or search the online guide at www.appalachiangrown.org
Kids love kale when it's prepared with care. Join Biltmore chef Kirk Fiore for a local food taste test at North Buncombe Elementary.
Southern Appalachian families scour the forests to dig up wild ginseng roots each fall. Although the roots can be exported to Asia for as much as $1,300 per pound, new research indicates that WNC business are interested in buying locally-grown ginseng cultivated by commercial farmers in Western North Carolina.
Spring is the perfect time to plant a school garden, but where to begin? ASAP and Sow True Seeds are working together to provide free seeds to schools in the Appalachian Grown region.
Teachers, parent volunteers, and garden coordinators can stop by the ASAP office in Asheville to pick up seeds or call (828) 236-1282.
Find lesson plans for grades preK-12 at www.growing-minds.org
It’s officially spring in the mountains and farmers are hard at work. In between preparing fields, planting seeds, and welcoming baby animals onto the farm, many farmers are also getting spring produce ready for market.
A big change is happening to the Asheville City Market. Starting this Saturday, April 1, 2017, the market is moving to North Market Street. The road will be closed between Woodfin and East Walnut Streets so locals and visitors can enjoy farm-fresh food and products in an open-air setting with "street fair" flair.
Look for the opening dates of farmers markets throughout the region at www.asapconnections.org And keep up with what’s fresh each week at www.fromhere.org
Farmer Daniel Wall and business partner Jon Mercer come from different backgrounds, but together with their young families, they’ve started a livestock farm that promotes their shared commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Learn more about Highlands Family Farm in Burke County, North Carolina at www.highlandsfamilyfarm.com
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)lets community members agree upfront to a season’s worth of food, and receive a box of produce, meat, or flowers from a local farm each week in return.
Find out some of the factors to consider when choosing a CSA in this podcast, and learn more about what farmers have to offer at ASAP's CSA Fair.
It be held Thursday, March 16 at Jubilee! in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Details at www.asapconnections.org
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an easy and exciting way to add more farm-fresh food to your diet. Customers agree upfront to a season's worth of vegetables, meat, or flowers and receive a box of food each week in return.
Learn more about how Community Supported Agriculture works and meet farmers who offer CSA shares in the Asheville area at ASAP's CSA Fair on March 16. More info: http://asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair/
There's more to farming than planting and harvesting; a thriving farm needs a strong business plan.
Paige Witherington and Justin Dansby from Pitch Pine Farm in Penrose, North Carolina focus on business during the winter months, including preparing documents for organic certification and developing a five-year plan for the farm.
There are several resources for local farmers, including ASAP's Business of Farming conference on Saturday, Feb. 25. Find out more at: www.asapconnections.org
Winter farmers markets are expanding in Western North Carolina. ASAP tracks venues for local food (including farmers markets) in its Local Food Guide. In 2003 there was one year-round market, but today there are eight winter markets throughout the region, including Spruce Pine, Franklin, and Columbus.
Why are there more winter markets here than ever before? Innovative farmers are finding new ways to extend the growing season.
Western North Carolina was the home of a local honey advocate. The late Laurey Masterton was a beekeeper who shared her love of honey with students through ASAP's Growing Minds Farm to School program.
She also hosted the early years of the International Black Jar Honey Contest at her cafe. The Center for Honeybee Research will present the 2017 contest in Asheville this weekend. More info: www.chbr.org
Farm to School activities about honeybees can be found at www.growing-minds.org
JB Farm in Caldwell County, North Carolina has changed dramatically over the past five years. Farmers Paula and Dale Boles were contract chicken producers raising broilers for one of the biggest poultry companies in the country.
It was exhausting work and they knew they needed a change. So they broke their contract, repurposed their chicken houses, and found independence through produce.
Winter is a time when farmers look back on the growing season and plan ahead for the coming year. Mountain Harvest Organics, a vegetable farm near Hot Springs, asked themselves and the community three questions over Instagram to inspire their planning process. Click play to hear their answers.
Want to hear more from farmers during the quiet months? Search for #appalachiangrown on Instagram and Twitter and go to the ASAP Facebook page to learn what farmers are up to this winter.
A Granny Smith apple can travel over 8,000 miles to get from New Zealand to North Carolina. Yet a Gold Rush apple grown in Henderson County might only travel a dozen miles between orchard and lunch box. Why make a local choice? Fresher produce that strengthens the local food system.
Find local orchards, farmers markets, and more at www.AppalachianGrown.org — ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.
The beauty of the Western North Carolina landscape is inspiring, and small farms are helping protect it. From diversified vegetable farms in Buncombe County to Christmas tree farms in the High Country, working farms are preserving the rural landscape and building an economy that supports farm businesses.
It takes an entire community to change the food system. Join the local food movement today by supporting our nonprofit organization: www.asapconnections.org
Cold weather doesn’t mean local food is in hibernation. Discover indoor farmers markets that offer winter veggies — plus meat, cheese, and other year-round delicacies.
Find winter markets throughout the Southern Appalachians: asapconnections.org/winter-farmers-markets
When you see the word "local" at restaurants or grocery stores, sometimes it's hard to tell exactly where the food comes from. ASAP aims to add transparency to the local food system with the Appalachian Grown program, which certifies farms, restaurants, and producers within 100 miles of Asheville, NC.
Look for the Appalachian Grown logo at farmers markets, restaurants, and wherever you buy your food. Find Appalachian Grown farms and partners in ASAP's Local Food Guide: www.appalachiangrown.org
What’s it like to raise kids on a farm while working two other jobs?
That was daily life for Anna Littman of Ivy Creek Family Farm until she and her husband Paul partnered with local restaurants. It gave them the stability they needed to work full-time on the farm with their children by their sides.
Hear baby Abe eat veggies fresh from the field and find out how working with restaurants has impacted their farm and family.
Give local this holiday season with gifts made by farmers, including onion jam from The Farmers Hands and loose leaf teas made by Asheville Tea Company. Find more gifts at www.appalachiangrown.org
Ideas and tips for a local Thanksgiving. Find fall markets and farm-fresh food in the Southern Appalachians: www.appalachiangrown.org
Meet Rebecca Collins and Steven Kinsella. They’re passionate about eating local and improving the food system. We caught up with them at ASAP’s Local Food Experience to talk about why they support local farms and culinary culture in the Southern Appalachians.
What do you get when you combine preschoolers with fresh apples straight from the orchard? A learning experience right in the palm of their hands.
Hear children from ASAP’s Learning Lab at the Child Care Center of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville take a bite out of farm-to-school learning this fall.
Find farm-to-School activities: http://growing-minds.org
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides low-income people with a monthly benefit for food. Many farmers markets now accept SNAP, but research shows participation is low. ASAP is working to change that with a USDA grant designed to increase SNAP participation at markets in three Western North Carolina counties.
More information on how to use SNAP at farmers markets: http://asapconnections.org/farmers-market-snap-brochures
The summer season may be over, but a farmer's work is never done. Local growers plan for next year by planting cover crops to build the soil.
Meet Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd Kirmss of Holt Orchards in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The brother and sister team devoted their lives to saving the family farm after they faced unexpected heartache. Hear how Todd and Tracy transformed the business and kept their family’s legacy alive.
The Creasman family has grown apples for three generations, and now sells rare varieties that can’t be found on grocery store shelves.
Why do they grow so many different kinds of apples? They stopped shipping the standard varieties to processors in Pennsylvania and started selling directly to their own community in North Carolina. It took 15 years and a big investment to find varieties the public would buy.
Now Creasman Farms sells at seven farmers market each week during apple season. We caught up with Dawn Creasman at the River Arts District market in Asheville, North Carolina to find out why it’s worth the extra effort.
Find Creasman Farms and other local apple growers at www.appalachiangrown.org
Fall favorites like pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and trips to the apple orchard are made possible by farmers who work hard all year. Check out these ideas for fall excursions in the Southern Appalachians.
Justus Orchard, Hendersonville: www.justusorchard.com Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview: www.hickorynutgapfarm.com Altapass Orchard, Spruce Pine: www.altapassorchard.org
The early days of autumn bring chilly mornings and fresh produce at farmers markets. Tomatoes and okra will be making their exit soon, and winter squash and greens are already taking center stage. Explore these flavors and more as late summer transitions into fall.
Find market schedules and discover what's fresh each week: www.fromhere.org
School is back in session and students are learning new lessons. So are their teachers at ASAP's Southeast Farm to School conference on Sept. 23-24 in Greenville, S.C.
Conference info and free farm to school lesson plans and activities are available at www.growing-minds.org
When Macon York Costlow and Luke Costlow joined a CSA for the first time this year, they quickly realized that Community Supported Agriculture would change the way they eat.
From cooking 100% local meals to discovering fermentation, Luke and Macon have made local food a joyful part of their daily lives.
Hear them pick up their CSA box from the farmers market and find out why joining Gaining Ground Farm’s CSA has inspired them to create countless summer meals.
Meet Debra and Nelson Copp. They make local food a big part of their lives by shopping at farmers markets, helping out at Farm Tour, and volunteering at ASAP events.
We caught up with them at ASAP’s Local Food Experience to talk about why they love the local food community.
Eva Duckett saw the transformation of her childhood home this summer. She visited her family's old farmland during ASAP's Farm Tour at what is now Full Sun Farm. It was an “emotional experience” that brought back memories and inspired her to reflect on the revitalization of her mountain home.
Meet local farmers, chefs, and food producers and taste the region's bounty at ASAP's Local Food Experience. Join us August 18 at Highland Brewing Company Event Center. $20. www.asapconnections.org
We'll be recording interviews with the community at the event. Tell us why you eat local for a chance to be on a future episode!
Organic farmers have to decide if certification is right for them, and so do people who eat local food. Kendall Huntley of Whisperholler Farms talks about growing organically without certification.
He also has some advice for customers who are interested in organically grown food. He points out that when people buy directly from farmers they can have a conversation about how the food was grown. These relationships can reduce a farmer’s need for formal certification.
To certify or not to certify organic? Balsam Gardens is growing every year and recently decided to become certified organic by the USDA. Owner Steven Beltram talks about the farm’s growing practices, its partnership with New Sprout Organics, and what consumers can expect at grocery stores.
Berry season means an abundance of farm-fresh produce, especially at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe where they swirl up local creations like blueberry lime basil sorbet.
Listen in on a special delivery from Rayburn Farm and Head of the Holler Farm. Then hear how local fruit and basil come together for a sweet treat straight from the berry patch.
Consumer demand for organic food is on the rise, prompting farmers in the Southern Appalachians to decide if they want to become USDA certified organic.
This episode describes some of the factors farmers consider when making this choice and how it impacts consumers. Future episodes will feature certified organic farmers as well as farmers who use organic methods but choose not to be certified.
Join is for an exploration of what “organic” means for farmers and the local food community.
Hundreds of people visited family farms on ASAP’s Farm Tour. Here are just a few of their stories.
Eric Scheffer is a fixture at the North Asheville Tailgate Market. The owner of Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant has brought a portable kitchen and a team of chefs to the market for the past 17 years.
These monthly chef demos bring the community together to enjoy fresh food from local farmers. Listen in as Scheffer hunts for ingredients and cooks them up on the spot.
ASAP's Farm Tour is this weekend! June 25 and 26
Explore twenty farms in Western North Carolina, including Zimmerman’s Berry Farm, Spinning Spider Creamery, East Fork Farm, and Dry Ridge Farm. These four farms are in beautiful Madison County, just waiting for you to visit.
Check out many more nearby farms and plan your route : www.asapconnections.org
ASAP's Farm Tour is just a few weeks away -- June 25 and 26, 2016
Open the barnyard gates and meet piglets who will spend their lives roaming the pastures of local farms. Or watch how cheese is made while the farm's goats forage outside. Spend some time learning how hops, one of the main flavoring ingredients in beer, are grown on towering trellises.
The East Cluster route is full of inspiring farms to visit, including Vandele Farms on Cedar Creek, Round Mountain Creamery, Hop n’ Blueberry Farm, and Farm Fresh Ventures.
Buy passes and plan your route: www.asapconnections.org
Immerse yourself in the fields and barnyards of Western North Carolina farms on ASAP's Farm Tour June 25 and 26.
Visit Fairview farms like Cane Creek Creamery, Flying Cloud Farm, and Hickory Nut Gap Farm. They're all a short drive from Asheville and have acres of fields and pasture to explore. Wander through the u-pick flower fields, meet baby chicks, and feast on a farm-fresh lunch made with local ingredients.
Find out more about these farms and many others, plus learn how to buy passes at www.asapconnections.org
It's farm tour season in the Southern Appalachians and farmers are getting ready to welcome the public to their fields and barnyards.
ASAP recently hosted an agritourism workshop at Shelton Family Farm in Whittier, N.C. Farmers from the far western region of the state toured the strawberry fields and learned about the rewards and challenges of inviting the community to their farm.
Everyone is invited to join a public farm tour. There are five farm tours in the mountains of North Carolina this spring and summer. Find one near you: www.fromhere.org
ASAP's Farm Tour is the weekend of June 25 and 26. Plan your route and purchase tickets: www.asapconnections.org
Take the 100% Local Food Challenge by eating only local food for an entire day.
A quick trip to the farmers market offers everything you need to eat locally all day long, from farm fresh eggs for breakfast to pastries for dessert.
We still use phrases like "bringing home the bacon" and "flew the coop," but why? Our language is full of farm idioms that remind us of our agricultural past. Find out what these sayings really mean and why we still use them today.
Tomatoes, herbs, small fruit trees and greens are just a few of the young plants offered at weekly farmers markets. Let local farmers start your garden right by bringing their plant starts home to your garden.
Find farmers markets in the Southern Appalachians: www.appalachiangrown.org
Preschoolers at ASAP's new Growing Minds Learning Lab are getting their hands dirty this summer.
Hear them talk about their gardening experiment and find out how the Child Care Center of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville is bringing local food into the lives of its littlest learners.
Gardening and local food resources for students of all ages: www.growing-minds.org
Eliot Coleman, author of The New Organic Grower, is a pioneer in the field of sustainable agriculture. His countless farming inventions and strategies for four-season farming have inspired growers for generations, including a new crop of farmers.
Coleman spoke with ASAP farmers at the Mother Earth News Fair and offered some advice for young farmers.
Want to find farm-fresh food anywhere in the Southern Appalachians?
ASAP's Local Food Guide features hundreds of listings of farms, CSAs, farmers markets, and restaurants that offer local food, plus compelling stories about local people changing the food system.
The paper guide just hit the stands and can be found at libraries, chambers of commerce, and restaurants throughout the region. A list of pickup locations and a comprehensive online guide can be found here: www.appalachiangrown.org
Outdoor farmers markets are finally here, complete with spring veggies, bluegrass music, and lively conversation between farmers and neighbors.
Take your ears on a stroll through the North Asheville Tailgate Market and get advice from farmer Tom Elmore (pictured) of Thatchmore Farm on how to make the most of spring outdoor markets.
Picking out seeds is one of the joys of spring, but where do those tiny seeds in the brightly colored packets come from?
Oftentimes seeds are grown by farmers in California and Oregon, but some regional seed companies in the Southern Appalachians are reviving old ways of producing seeds that grow particularly well in the Southeast.
Sow True Seed, based in Asheville, N.C., is one of those regional seed companies. They partner with farms like Against the Grain Farm in Zionville, N.C. to offer seeds that are adapted to the perils and promise of growing in the Southeastern United States.
Farmer Holly Whitesides and Sow True Seed agriculture director Renee Fortner explain why growing regionally-adapted seeds bolsters small farms and what home gardeners can gain by seeking out seeds that thrive in our region.
Bass Hyatt raises cattle at the Hyatt homeplace in Brasstown, N.C. His multi-generational farm has adapted its farming techniques to meet consumer demand for beef that’s fed grass instead of grain.
About 15 years ago, Hyatt met Jamie and Amy Ager of Hickory Nut Gap Farm. They partner with farmers like Hyatt to meet their wholesale demand for grassfed beef.
Connecting with the Agers offers Hyatt a market for his beef so he can turn his focus to sustainable production and breeding cattle that thrive on grass.
Find out more about local partnerships that further the food system at www.asapconnections.org
What happens when 200 farmers, buyers, and agricultural professionals get together each winter? Expect plenty of connections that bring food from the field to the plate.
Go behind-the-scenes at ASAP's 2016 Business of Farming conference with Chef Philip Bollhoefer and farmers from Reeves Home Place Farm and Red Scout Farm.
Did you know that hogs, turkeys, and ducks walked right through downtown Asheville during the 1820s? Each fall, drovers herded hundreds or even thousands of animals through Asheville on the way to markets further south.
Hear what ASAP executive director and history buff Charlie Jackson says about this riveting time in local agricultural history.
Imagine getting a big box of veggies every week, no shopping required. Community Supported Agriculture is a way to simplify eating and cooking so the freshest local produce is at your fingertips each week.
ASAP will host a CSA Fair on Thursday March 10, from 3-6 p.m. Stop by the Jubilee! community church on Wall Street in Asheville to meet local farmers and find out which CSA might be right for you.
Find out more at www.asapconnections.org
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?
(Photo of East Fork Farm in Marshall, NC by Rich Orris)
Matt Coffay of Second Spring Market Garden is one of several local growers who farm all year. Find out why the community craves fresh produce at indoor markets and how farmers are stepping up production to meet winter demand.
ASAP's Local Food Guide: www.appalachiangrown.org Second Spring Market Garden 4-season CSA: www.secondspringfarm.com
Listen in as we trace chevre back to the source, from grass to goat and milk to cheese.
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.
Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes peek into the conference.
Saturday, February 20, 2016, 8:30-5:00 p.m. UNC Asheville in downtown Asheville, NC. www.asapconnections.org
Last summer farmer Gabriel Noard, owner of Pangaea Plants, poured his heart and soul into a crop of watermelon on his 24-acre farm in Rutherford County, NC. Despite careful attention, weeds grew up around the watermelon and marred their skin.
Find out how ASAP helped Gabriel share his watermelon with local students.
Swain County, North Carolina has a “dream team” made up of three community leaders who work to bring local food into the lives of the county’s 14,000 residents.
A crowd of people line up on the street waiting for the doors to open. They huddle with neighbors and friends until the doors are unlocked and everyone rushes in. It’s not a movie premiere. It’s not even concert tickets that they’re after. These people are waiting for local food at the Asheville City Market.
Farmers markets went quiet for a few weeks after the holidays, but indoor winter markets are finally here. Piles of kale and towers of turnips are ready for the community to take home to their dinner tables. Though the range of produce is limited during the winter months, there are plenty of greens, root veggies, meat, eggs, and crafts for winter shoppers.
These markets are a gathering place for farmers and members of the community who might not otherwise see each other until spring. This past Saturday at the Asheville City Market and the YMCA Indoor Winter Market, the room echoed with vibrant conversations about everything from soil temperature to ways to cook mustard greens.
Winter markets are going strong throughout Western North Carolina. Spruce Pine in Mitchell County has an indoor market the first Saturday of the month at Dry County Brewing Company. Boone keeps its winter market running on the first and third Saturdays of the month at the Agricultural Conference Center. And a few of the regular vendors from the Transylvania Farmers Market sell on Saturday mornings in on East Main street in Brevard.
Does your community have a winter market? ASAP keeps a running list of markets throughout the region in its Local Food Guide, and weekly updates on what’s fresh at the market at www.fromhere.org
What can we do to support food and farms? Here are five ways to join the local food movement:
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Buying directly from farmers makes a big difference. Farmers markets are a great place to get to know the people who grow our food and to support their efforts. Winter markets start back up in early January throughout the region, making this an ideal time to connect with local farmers each week.
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Visiting farms is a tangible way to participate in the local food system. Farm tours, pick-your -owns and other on-farm opportunities let people see local farms in action and better understand what it takes to bring farm-fresh foods to the table.
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Buying local food at grocery stores and restaurants lets them know that there is demand for food grown locally. If you’re not sure whether produce or farm products are local, just ask! Speaking up encourages food buyers to stock more local foods.
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Talking to public officials, neighbors, friends, and family about why you care about local food helps build a community of supporters. Forming a network of people who value locally-grown food helps build the local food system from the ground up.
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This is also a great time of year to consider joining a CSA - so keep an eye out for Community Supported Agriculture sign-ups this spring.
ASAP has a wealth of resources about how to support local food and farms at www.asapconnections.org
What does it mean when we say “local?" Local food can be measured in many ways, but the number of miles that food has traveled to get from farm to plate reveals a lot.
When a tomato is shipped thousands of miles from California to North Carolina, it not only loses flavor, it also takes local farmers out of the equation - and that has an impact on the local food economy.
One way to help build healthy local food systems is to choose farm products grown close to home. Buying food that is part of the local food economy instead of the global food economy generally reduces the carbon emissions it takes to transport and refrigerate food as it travels across the globe. Buying local is an important way to invest in local food systems, but how can you tell how far food has traveled to get here?
Food labels help consumers understand the origin of what they eat. Appalachian Grown is a regional branding project started by ASAP that certifies produce and food products that come from the Southern Appalachians. The distinctive green logo helps people identify food that is grown locally so they can make informed decisions about supporting the region’s food systems.
Appalachian Grown labels can be seen at farmers markets, on grocery store shelves, and in local restaurants. A wide range of farm-fresh foods can be certified Appalachian Grown, as well as value-added products like honey and jam. More than 700 farms and 400 businesses participate in the program each year.
ASAP has information about how Appalachian Grown works and why food labeling projects make a difference at www.ASAPConnections.org
Eating local may seem as simple as buying fresh greens at the farmers market, but there’s a lot of theory to back up why these small acts add up to a resilient food community. Studying how and why the local food system is evolving gives organizations like ASAP concrete methods to test the most effective ways to create healthy food systems.
ASAP’s Local Food Research Center collects and analyzes data to understand how the perceptions and attitudes of local farmers, food system buyers, and consumers are changing as the region’s food system grows and evolves.
The research center surveys a wide range of people engaged in the local food system to find out why they eat local, the barriers they face, and how their experiences with local food and farms have changed over the years.
The research center is engaged in many projects, including a multi-year survey of southern Appalachian farmers. Annual interviews with a core group of farmers track the economic, social, and environmental factors that play a role in local food production. These interviews help researchers understand the challenges and opportunities that exist for farmers and what kind of actions need to be taken to overcome those barriers and take advantage of opportunities.
Talking to local food consumers is another key part of the research center’s work. Ongoing surveys ask people at farmers markets, farm tours, and other local food events to describe how these kinds of experiences influence the way they think about farms and the decisions they make about food and eating. The data helps ASAP understand the value of these experiences for furthering the development of the region’s food system.
More information about ASAP’s Local Food Research Center and its findings can be found at www.ASAPconnections.org
Farm to School taste tests give kids a chance to try new vegetables and learn about local farms. ASAP visited N. Buncombe Elementary school's cafeteria during a bustling lunch hour to give kids a taste of raw sweet potatoes.
(Photo courtesy Buncombe County Schools Communications Dept.)
For most of the region, agriculture is in a state of transition. For example, burley tobacco once dominated farming in the Southern Appalachians. It was a major cash crop at the center of the region’s agriculture for over a century. But the economics of tobacco farming changed and by the mid-1990s, it became clear that federal support programs for tobacco farming would eventually end.
In many areas in transition, communities turned to local food systems as a means to keep farms and build community resilience. Localized food production allows farms to produce food that is aligned with a community’s needs rather than just global demand. Farms can connect with the community, learn what customers want and produce more the following year. This feedback allows food systems to evolve and grow and serve the communities they are a part of.
The loss of tobacco could have been devastating to the Appalachian region’s agricultural base, but the local food movement is helping to build a resilient economy that is anchored in the region’s natural resources and people. Investing in the knowledge and skills of local farmers and other entrepreneurs has helped local farms survive the loss of tobacco. Our region’s local food movement continues to support the development of healthy food systems that benefit the community.
ASAP tracks these changes through its Local Food Research Center. Data and writings about the impact of local food systems can be found at www.ASAPConnections.org
Tomato season has come and gone and summer squash is a distant memory, but local food thrives all year long in the Southern Appalachians.
There are many vegetables that stay fresh during the winter months, including giant kohlrabi and other root vegetables that can be stored until early spring, and spinach varieties that can grow in hoop houses nearly all winter.
Many communities host farmers markets throughout the year, including Asheville and several rural mountain towns where demand is high. Even if your area doesn’t have a winter market, there are ways to support local food and farms throughout the year.
Maintaining relationships with farmers during the winter is a way to stay engaged with the community year round. So before the regular market season ends, ask farmers where to find their products during the winter. Many farms supply local grocery stores and co-ops with meats, cheeses, and other specialty products.
Asking restaurants which local foods they use is another way to stay connected. Several area restaurants go out of their way to include locally-grown greens, apples, and spinach in their winter menus. Talking to restaurants and grocers about local food demonstrates consumer demand and encourages them to seek out local products.
It’s also not too early to start thinking about CSAs or Community Supported Agriculture. In fact, a growing number of farms and dairies offer home delivery throughout the winter. And in March, ASAP hosts a CSA fair where people can sign up for weekly CSA boxes and support farmers as they get ready for the upcoming growing season.
Information about year-round CSAs and winter farmers markets can be found at www.asapconnections.org
A stroll through the local farmers market is like walking through a cornucopia of abundance. Sweet potatoes are piled high near yellow onions and fresh greens. But before these ingredients are ready for the soup pot, a transaction must be made.
There are often financial barriers that separate people from fresh, healthy food. Several farmers markets in the region now accept SNAP tokens or vouchers. Once known as food stamps, SNAP is a nationwide effort to help low-income people access healthy food.
In some North Carolina mountain communities, a USDA pilot project will test innovative ways to better engage all communities with the abundance of fresh local produce available at the markets. A new USDA grant will help the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project connect people in Buncombe, Haywood, and Henderson counties with healthy food.
ASAP will foster relationships with local agencies and nonprofits that already help low-income people live healthy lives. Through this new grant, faith-based groups and social service agencies will help open the pathways to explain how SNAP works at farmers markets and to encourage the people they serve to make going to the market part of their eating routine.
It’s all about accessibility. When our entire community can access healthy food, all of our lives are improved.
East Fork Farm is part of a growing movement of Appalachian farmers who raise free-range turkeys for Thanksgiving.
The way we eat and the way we live are intertwined. Agriculture sustains us and connects us with the farmers who grow our food and the markets, grocers, chefs, and home cooks that bring it to our table.
For over 20 years, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project - or ASAP - has helped local farms flourish. The nonprofit organization works to support farmers by creating awareness about the value of local food offering resources to growers, among many other things.
Connecting farmers with food buyers, certifying local food as Appalachian Grown, and putting together the Local Food Guide are just a few ways that ASAP supports local food.
Building community is also a key piece of ASAP’s work. Organizing and supporting farmers markets across the region encourages the public to learn about local food and to form bonds with the farmers they see each week.
Engaging the next generation is also important. ASAP’s Farm-to-School program encourages local schools to incorporate gardening, cooking, and farm field trips into their lesson plans. Building positive relationships between kids and local food enriches their lives from the ground up and fosters a link between our farms and our future.
Each Monday on WNCW 88.7, ASAP will share stories from our local food community. Videos, photos, and ways to get involved can be found anytime at ASAP Connections dot org.