Appalachian
Sustainable Agriculture
Project
306 West Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Voice: 828-236-1282
Fax: 828-236-1280 Email
Us
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is
a
501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization.
e-Connections: Feb. 09
February 2009
As Tobacco
Farms Decline, New Farming Opportunities Expand
As
expected, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of farms growing
tobacco. The surprise is that most farmers have found ways to keep
farming.
The
recently released 2007 Agriculture Census shows that WNC lost farms at a higher
rate than the rest of the state. This dramatic change is largely due to
the 2004 Tobacco Buyout, which purchased farmers' quotas to grow tobacco.
ASAP
Executive Director Charlie Jackson has analyzed the data to determine that
we have actually gained farms growing products other than tobacco. 1,700
farmers stopped growing tobacco but only 679 farms actually ceased operations.
That means most farmers who stopped growing tobacco were able to switch to
growing another crop or that new farmers replaced them. "There are opportunities for farmers to make
the transition from tobacco," Jackson
says.
ASAP
started in the mid-90s in anticipation of a dramatic decline in tobacco. Since
that time we have worked to develop new, local markets that will sustain
farms. Our farmers want to keep farming and new farmers want to
start; the fact that the tobacco market bottomed out and they adapted is a
testament to this. Jackson
says, "The best ways community members can support farmers and preserve
farmland is by buying local."
It's CSA Sign-Up Season
Winter is the time to sign up for CSA. Choosing a CSA is an
opportunity to look forward to spring. And your membership helps farmers buy
seed and start the season.
Participants in CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture programs)
pre-pay for a kind of subscription to a farm. Throughout the growing season,
CSA members receive a share of the produce from their farm that week. They have
a direct connection to their farm, and see how the harvest from it changes week
by week over the course of the season.
Farmers and shoppers seeking places to buy and sell local
products year-round have new options to look forward to.
Appalachian Vintner Wine, Beer, and Local Market is currently
hosting an indoor winter farmers market on Saturdays from 10:00a.m to 3:00p.m.
at 2-B Huntsman Place
in Asheville.
For directions, or for more information on vending, call Charles Alexander at
828-505-7500. Read more about the launch of the market in The Asheville Citizen-Times.
The Asheville Shop located inside the Asheville
Visitor Center
at 36 Montford Avenue
in Asheville is
setting up a non-perishable local food section called "Foodtopia."
This is in conjunction with the Convention and Visitor Bureau specialty website
www.foodtopiansociety.com. For
information on vending,
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or call him at 828-258-6103.
Blue Ridge Food Ventures announced
a new program to help complete the link between local farmers who produce fruits
and vegetables spring, summer, and fall and consumers who want local produce
all year round. Winter Sun Farms WNC CSA does not involve a direct relationship
with a particular farm as a CSA typically does. Rather, the program will take
local produce from various farmers in peak season, then minimally process and
freeze it for distribution to members in the winter months when fresh local
produce is hard to find. The first share
will be ready for distribution in December 2009. Organizers would like to talk
with farmers about varieties they grow that freeze well.
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The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Visitor Destination Center
stores are considering carrying pre-packaged, non-perishable, locally
produced
food items such as jams, honey, and sauces in stores along the Blue
Ridge Parkway. For information, contact Waylon Wood with Eastern
National, an organization operating educational
retail outlets with profits donated to the National Park Service.
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or call 828-298-5330, ext. 313.
Marketing Materials, Cost Shares, & More
Farmers
and business people: Before the busy growing season starts, work on your marketing
plans and promotions for the year. If you are considering ordering Appalachian
Grown materials such as labels, signs, or hats, please
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.
ASAP is now offering Appalachian Grown certified farms and businesses cost
shares for promotional materials, advertising, and graphic design including the
Appalachian Grown logo.
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to find out how ASAP can pay for part of your marketing expenses.
If
you plan on vending at the Asheville City Market in 2009, we recommend that you
contact
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.
Also,
there is still time to sign up for the 2009 Local Food Guide. ASAP's Local Food
Guide is one of the largest and most comprehensive guides to local food
available anywhere in the United
States. You can create or update your free
listing on our website at www.buyappalachian.org
or call the office for more information.
Looking for the weekly Fresh at Farmers Markets update? Find it at FromHere.org, ASAP's new community website, along with other news, photos, local food and farm events, and more. While you're there, join the conversation!
Curious about the difference your donation can make? Here are some examples of what ASAP can accomplish with your support:
-$1,000 helps farmers access new markets
-$500 brings a class of school children to a local farm
-$100 funds a cooking demo on how to prepare fresh foods
-$50 trains a farmer in new skills -$25 provides seeds and resources for school gardens
Click here to give your gift to ASAP today. Or, give on behalf of a loved one and tell the recipient about the good work that will be done in his or her name.
