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: Sept. 08
September 2008
Market News
Fresh at Farmers Markets
Apples are in seasonand you'll find plenty of other fruit including
melons, grapes, and plums at area markets too.
Choose from summer squash, winter squash, potatoes, green
beans, beets, eggplants, cabbages, cucumbers, onions, sweet peppers, hot
peppers, okra, kohlrabi, radishes, eggplants, greens, an assortment of herbs
and greens, and more vegetables. And get fresh tomatoes and sweet corn while
they're still available.
Accompany your vegetables with local eggs, honey, goat
cheese, meats, or baked goods.
Many markets also offer fresh-roasted coffee, cut flowers,
plants, and crafts throughout the season.
Information provided by the Big Ivy, Madison County,
and North Asheville Farmers Markets.
Special Events
On Saturday, September 13,
the North Asheville Farmers Market will hold the Big Roast, roasting local
peppers and corn for visitors to taste.
On Saturday, September 20, the
Madison County Farmers & Artisan Market will celebrate peppers with a
Pepper Party exploring different hot, green, and sweet peppers.
Art Contest
The
Mountain Tailgate Market Association seeks submissions of
visual
art (photography, painting, drawing, etc.) depicting its member farmers
tailgate markets for use in a 2009 farmers market calendar. The deadline is
November 30, 2008. For submission guidelines, click here.
Classified Ads
There's a new
classified ads section of ASAP's website at http://www.asapconnections.org/classifieds.html.
If you have a want or offer related to
local food or farming, please post here. Categories for produce & farm
products, plants & seeds, livestock, equipment, farms & land, jobs
& internships, and other listings already exist.
We're continually
working to improve the website. Check
back soon for an online calendar that lets you add your own events.
Workshops for Farmers and Community Members
Farm to School
Workshop
ASAP's Growing Minds Program invites you for a
peer learning visit. This half day workshop offers a hands-on
experience for community groups, parents, and volunteers.
Focusing on grassroots involvement and how to organize Farm to School efforts
in your community, this workshop will offer baseline information about school
food and how the system works, identifying where to start with a program,
funding a start up project, raising awareness in the community, and examples of
successful programs.
Registration costs include a dinner of local food. This workshop
will be limited to 25 participants. For more information or to register
please contact Molly Nicholie at
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or 828-236-1282.
Food Safety Trainings
Food retailers and the food
service industry are beginning to utilize Good
Agricultural Practices" (GAP) and "Good Handling Practices" (GHP)--third party audits to verify that farmers are
producing vegetables and fruits as safely as possible. Farmers who want to
continue to sell to these buyers should plan ahead to be in compliance. To help North Carolina
growers and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents prepare for GAP and GHP
audits, ASAP, the North Carolina Fresh Produce Safety Task Force, and the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension are offering
another training on fresh produce safety on October 6th from 9:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at a Buncombe
County farm.
For more
information, visit http://www.asapconnections.org/safetytraining.html,
contact Keith Baldwin at 336-334-7957
or
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, or contact Allison
Perrett at 828-236-1282 or
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.
Festivals and Fairs
This time of year, festivals and fairs celebrate the last long
days of summer. You'll find ASAP at Field to Table Festival: A Taste of Appalachia, an event at the Biltmore Estate, from September 19-28. Field to Table invites visitors to experience the connection
between farmer, chef, and winemaker. ASAP staffers will make presentations and provide
visual displays and a booth featuring local farms and farmers, hosted by ASAP.
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.
Fresh at Farmers Markets
