Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

TO HELP LOACL 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 SKILLS, TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND CONNECTIONS 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. ASAP OPERATED A WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE AND ASSISTED MORE THAN 100 FARMERS MARKETS TO UNDERSTAND BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGEMENT, PROMOTE THEMSELVES, AND NAVIGATE THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM HELD ITS 19TH ANNUAL ASAP BUSINESS OF FARMING CONFERENCE, DELIVERING 14 WORKSHOPS TO MORE THAN 160 PARTICIPANTS IN 2022. ASAP PUBLISHED 100,000 COPIES OF THE LOCAL FOOD GUIDE IN 2022.

IN 2022 ASAP CONTINUED PUTTING TIME AND RESOURCES TOWARDS FARM FRESH FOR HEALTH PROGRAMMING INCLUDING A FARMERS MARKET DOUBLE SNAP FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND AN EXPANDED FARM FRESH PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE PATIENTS WITH WEEKLY INCENTIVES FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT THE ASAP FARMERS MARKET. ADDITIONALLY IN 2022, ASAP HOSTED 4 REGIONAL FARM FRESH FOR HEALTH SYMPOSIUMS AND TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS THAT FEATURED COMMUNITY IS ACTION PROJECTS, HIGHLIGHTING FARM FRESH FOR HEALTH STRATEGIES ACROSS COMMUNITY LEVEL INITIATIVES. ASAP'S GROWING MINDS PROGRAM ALSO CONNECTS EDUCATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING WITH LOCAL AGRICULTURE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES IN ORDER 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. THE PROGRAM FACILITATED POSITIVE LOCAL FOOD AND FARM EXPERIENCES THROUGH COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, FARM FIELD TRIPS, GARDENS, AND LOCALLY GROWN FOOD SERVED IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE REGION.

ASAP'S GROWING MINDS PROGRAM PROVIDES WORKSHOPS AND OTHER TRAINING TO EDUCATORS , SO THAT THEY CAN INTEGRATE LOCAL FOOD, HEALTHY EATING, AND FARM-BASED ACTIVITIES INTO THEIR WORK. IN 2022 TRAININGS WERE OFFERED IN BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON FORMATS. IMPLEMENTATION WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH TOOLS, RESOURCES, MATERIALS, AND FUNDS DISTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE REGION TO FACILITATE THE CREATION/MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL GARDENS, PROVIDE COOKING CLASSES, SUPPORT LOCAL PROCUREMENT, 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 ONGOING PROGRAMMING FOR FARMERS AND THE COMMUNITY, CONTENT AND CONTEXT FOR THE LOCAL FOOD GUIDE, 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.