Oak Foundation 145d ago

In the hilly, forested, and sparsely populated Southern Appalachian region of North Carolina, farmers' markets are one of the most effective ways of getting food from farm to fork. ASAP strengthens and supports local farms through practical and business support, links them to clients such as local school cafeterias and restaurant suppliers, and engages educators to connect schoolchildren with food and farms. In addition to promoting local food and farms through its Local Food Guide and its ‘Appalachian Grown’ branding, ASAP provides workshops, conferences, toolkits, peer connection, and one-to-one consultations to farmers starting up, to help them get established and so that their farm businesses can become quickly sustainable. “By developing a whole system around local food, you create a range of viable markets and ensure people from all incomes can access quality produce,” says executive director Molly Nicholie. This is why farmers' markets support fair access to local food for everyone, welcoming folks using food assistance programmes, and offering extra fruit and veg as an incentive to shop there. Oak Foundation supports the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project through our Special Interest Programme, which connects with a diverse range of partners around the world. Find out more here: https://oakfnd.org/programmes/special-interest/ and here: https://asapconnections.org/