Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

TO HELP LOCAL FARMS THRIVE, LINK FARMERS TO MARKETS AND SUPPORTERS, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL FOOD.

ASAP'S LOCAL FOOD CAMPAIGN, CAPACITY BUILDING WORK GIVES FARMERS AND BUYERS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. THE APPALACHIAN GROWN REGIONAL BRANDING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CERTIFIED OVER 850 FARMS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO PROMOTIONAL AND PACKAGING MATERIALS TO IDENTIFY FARM PRODUCTS AS CERTIFIED LOCAL. MORE THAN 450 PARTNER BUSINESSES INCLUDING GROCERS, RESTAURANTS, DISTRIBUTORS, HOSPITALS, COLLEGES, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. LOCAL FOOD CAMPAIGN ORGANIZERS HELP MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FARMERS AND BUYERS, SHARE STORIES ABOUT FOOD AND FARMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PROMOTE LOCAL FOOD WHERE CONSUMERS SHOP AND DINE. WE CONTINUED HOSTING THE WEEKLY ASAP FARMERS MARKET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM ASSISTED MORE THAN 100 FARMERS MARKETS TO UNDERSTAND BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGEMENT, PROMOTE THEMSELVES, AND NAVIGATE THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM HELD ITS 18TH ANNUAL ASAP BUSINESS OF FARMING CONFERENCE - HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. DELIVERING 13 WORKSHOPS TO MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021. ASAP PUBLISHED 70,000 COPIES OF THE LOCAL FOOD GUIDE IN 2021. IN 2021 WE CONTINUED PUTTING TIME AND RESOURCES TOWARDS EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING IMMEDIATE NEEDS GRANTS FOR FARMERS FOR FLOOD RELIEF, AN EXPANDED FARMERS MARKET DOUBLE SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAM, AND THE APPALACHIAN FARMS FEEDING FAMILIES PROGRAM PROVIDED MARKET OUTLETS TO FARMERS AND FRESH PRODUCE FOR FOOD RELIEF SITES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. ADDITIONALLY, WE PILOTED A FARM FRESH PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE PATIENTS WITH WEEKLY INCENTIVES FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT THE ASAP FARMER'S MARKET. ASAP'S GROWING MINDS PROGRAM CONNECTS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO CREATE HEALTHY FOOD ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES TO BETTER THE HEALTH OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF. PRE-PANDEMIC, THE PROGRAM FACILITATED POSITIVE LOCAL FOOD EXPERIENCES THROUGH COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, FARM FIELD TRIPS, GARDENS, AND LOCALLY GROWN FOOD SERVED IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE REGION. THROUGHOUT 2021 THE PROGRAM PIVOTED TO SUPPORT PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN FACILITATING THESE EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE CONFINES OF REMOTE LEARNING AND COVID RESTRICTIONS. ASAP'S GROWING MINDS PROVIDES WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER TRAINING TO HUNDREDS OF PROFESSIONALS, SO THAT THEY CAN INTEGRATE LOCAL FOOD, HEALTHY EATING, AND FARM-BASED ACTIVITIES INTO THEIR WORK. THESE TRAININGS WERE SHIFTED TO VIRTUAL FORMATS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTATION WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH FUNDS DISTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TO FACILITATE THE CREATION/MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL GARDENS, PROVIDE COOKING CLASSES, OR TAKE FARM FIELD TRIPS. DIETETIC INTERNS FROM PARTNER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE TRAINED TO IMPLEMENT FARM TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR FUTURE PROFESSIONS. ASAP CONTINUED THE GROWING MINDS @ COMMUNITY COLLEGES, A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO EMBED FARM TO PRESCHOOL INTO 22 OF THE 58 NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ASAP'S GROWING MINDS CO-FACILITATES THE NC FARM TO PRESCHOOL NETWORK AND SERVES ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FARM TO SCHOOL COALITION OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE LOCAL FOOD RESEARCH CENTER (LFRC) EXAMINES THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF LOCALIZING FOOD SYSTEMS. THE CENTER RESEARCHES AND TESTS ASAP'S THEORY OF FOOD SYSTEM CHANGE. ASAP'S THEORY IS THAT CREATING DEMOCRATIC AND RESPONSIVE FOOD SYSTEMS WILL INCREASE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, BUILD RESILIENT ECONOMIES, AND SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. CLOSER CONNECTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPED THROUGH FOOD SYSTEM EXPERIENCES EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO CONSCIOUSLY CREATE A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM. LFRC PROVIDED RESEARCH AND SUPPORT FOR ASAP'S RESPONSE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID ON FARMERS AND THE COMMUNITY, CONTENT AND CONTEXT FOR THE LOCAL FOOD GUIDE, THE ANNUAL CALENDAR, ASAP'S ANNUAL REPORT, AND MORE. RESEARCH FINDINGS ALSO SUPPORTED ASAP'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS; RESEARCH STAFF PROVIDED CONTENT, FRAMING, AND WRITING SUPPORT FOR SEVERAL MULTIPLE PROPOSALS. LFRC ALSO PROVIDED ONGOING EVALUATION ASSISTANCE TO OTHER ASAP PROGRAMS AND ADMINISTERED ASAP'S ANNUAL SURVEY TO FARMERS, WHICH INFORMS THE WORK OF THE LOCAL FOOD CAMPAIGN.