Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund
Community Collaborative Projects
2011 Projects:
Yadkin Farmers Market
The town planner, town manager, Cooperative Extension and area farmers have gotten together and determined that a new location for their farmers market is absolutely necessary. In their current location, lack of parking, restrooms, and shelter for the vendors has provided significant challenges. Grant funds will assist in establishing the Yadkin County Growers Only Farmers Market at a new location with improved facilities.
Triad Fruit Processing Facility
The Triad Fruit Processing Facility is the effort of a group of farmers in Rockingham County seeking to establish a new outlet for their grapes, berries, apples and other fruits. With assistance from grant funds, the group will purchase a crusher, pasteurizer and juice pump in order to process their fresh fruit into high quality juices for the local market.
Piedmont Local Food.com Website Redesign and Infrastructure
Piedmont Local Food.com (PLF) has been in business for less than a year and has sold eggs, meats, herbs, cheeses and baked goods from over 30 farms using a borrowed website. Grant funds will allow PLF will establish their own website. Farmers will also have access to workshops on how to use QuickBooks, create a farm business plan, use Facebook as a marketing tool, and more. www.piedmontlocalfood.com
Group Marketing of Feeder Calves in the Catawba Valley
Grant funds will allow the Catawba Valley Cattlemen’s Association to purchase an inspected scale for use by members of the association. Farmers will be able to market their cattle collectively by the truck load after preconditioning the calves on their own farms. This new system is better for the cattle and more profitable for the cattleman.
Sparta / Alleghany Choose and Cut Farm Alliance
Growers in the Sparta region have beautiful Christmas trees available at competitive but only get half the traffic of better known tree destinations. The Sparta / Alleghany Choose and Cut Alliance formed in order to stretch their marketing resources further, and with assistance from grant funds, will be launching a website and developing a brand to draw new customers to their region.
Reedy Fork Farm Organic Feed Mill
George and his fellow Organic Valley dairy farmers know first-hand how expensive it is to supply organic feed to their animals. Grant funds along with a loan from Organic Valley will be used to complete the set up of an organic feed mill where George will process grain from his farm and other regional farms to provide to local growers. http://www.northcarolinaorganicfeed.com/about/
West Craven High School Ag Coop
Brenda teaches farm management skills to special needs students at West Craven High School. She is in the process of creating a cooperative between local farmers and the honorary FFA students, in which farmers will train the young folks in various aspects of farming as they prepare to run their own farms. The cooperative will also serve to expose current farmers to diverse farming practices. Grant funds will be used for livestock fencing.
The “Locally Grown, Seasonally Fresh”
Anna operates Natures Harmony, an ornamental plant nursery located at the beach and in close proximity to Jockey’s Ridge Park. In order to take advantage of the tourist market, she has begun carrying food products ranging from her own preserves and fresh fruits to produce from area farmers. Grant funds will allow her to upgrade this informal farmer’s coop by paying for marketing so that Anna can sell as much local produce through her distribution hub as possible.
Mushroom Fruiting House and Production Facility
Geneva is working with a group of farmers training them how to produce mushrooms year-round indoors. The farmers plan to market collectively, with the possibility of selling to institutional markets such as universities. With help from grant funds, they will be able to erect a 20 x 40 mushroom fruiting facility which can be replicated on individual farmers’ land. The facility will have the capacity of producing 200 lbs per week.
Install Well Water System/Storage Unit
Charlene, John & Chad have become leading prawn farmers in the state, and have recently formed the American Prawn Cooperative in order to standardize and verify quality control processes that will be good for the prawn and win consumer confidence. Access to clean water and storage for water so that it is available when needed is a major factor in a successful prawn business. Grant funds will be used to dig a well and for a water storage facility.
Lenoir Farmer’s Market
The Lenoir County Farmers market currently serves as an outlet for 15 farmers, all former tobacco growers. The newly formed Community Based Foods Initiative has boosted the market potential; however, the facilities are in need of restoration to attract the necessary level of local and tourist customers, especially the elderly. Grant funds will allow them to improve the bathroom, upgrade the facility, and improve the parking area.
Project Farmhouse
Danny and Jackie raise goats, hogs, beef and buffalo as well as produce, which they deliver directly to their customers. In order to make their operation more profitable, they have begun contracting with local farmers to grow and sell additional produce to market to their clients. Grant funds will assist them in growing their farm product delivery business by paying for processing and packaging equipment.
Farm to Chef Program
Jane Steigerwald, Program Director of Marketing and Nutrition Specialist, manages the marketing for the Southeast North Carolina Food Systems Network. She and several other cooperators including over a dozen farmers began in 2007 by bringing farmers and chefs together and developing a brochure with contact information. While the focus is on restaurants, there are plans to move into public schools and group homes with their produce. They work with the local schools and the extension offices to promote their efforts and train students. The funds will be used to hire a coordinator to manage the program.
Center for Northeastern Coalition of Minority Small Landowners and Farmers
Shirley has established a coalition of minority farmers in Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Currituck Counties. With assistance from grant funds, she is piloting a training program for current and aspiring farmers. The program will take participants through each step in farm business planning, including production in high tunnels all the way to marketing using new technology and innovative media outlets.
Organic On-Farm Grain and Seed
Kenny and his son Ben are using grant funds to establish the first organic seed cleaning facility in the state. Lindley Mills has helped select bread wheat cultivars that will grow well in North Carolina, while the NC Organic Bread Flour Project is identifying organic grain farmers throughout who may be interested in using the seed cleaning facilities. Seed cleaning services are essential for the expansion of organic grain production in the state.
C.R. Natural’s Farm Revitalization “Feed the Town”
Farmers in Bethel are organizing to provide for the food needs of their town, which does not have a grocery store. The group formed a business called Beneficial Investments, which will plant on the three organic transitional pastures that they own collectively. Grant funds will go towards renovating a barn where they will sell produce, beef and pork. They also hope to provide some products to the local school system.
Caswell County Wick Applicator
Julie Elmore representing the Piedmont Conservation Council will be teaching farmers in their area to use a wick applicator to deal with unwanted wanted weeds by applying less herbicide to their fields. The grant will be used on purchasing this wick applicator.
Local Produce Safety Initiative
Roland McReynolds of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association manages the Local Produce Safety Initiative (LPSI) that will enhance the competitiveness of small-scale North Carolina Specialty crop producers that serve the growing market for locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables by providing a scale-appropriate alternative to USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. This grant will be used to hire a research staffer, grant manager, and communication manager.
Down East Connect
The Down East Classic community project will provide farmers access to new retail markets using broadband Internet, creating a virtual market between Columbus county farmers with nearby urban chefs and consumers who want fresh, locally grown produce. The grant will be used to pay for sales manager, assistant, payroll taxes, supplies, and the educational advisor in sustainable farming techniques for farmers.
Farmer’s Market Manager
As a growing farmers’ market in a growing region of the state, Fayetteville Farmers’ Market will hire a market manager to manage and direct certain aspects of the market, which include but are not limited to routine operations, system management, community and event coordination, and promotion of the market. This grant will be used to pay for market manager’s labor and to advertise the farmers market.
Growing New Farmers in the Piedmont Region: The PLANT @ Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator
The Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator’s goal of this community project is to enhance the capacity of a proven new farmer training program to provide improved educational opportunities that improve entrepreneurship for new farmer by enabling these new farmers to pilot and develop new or alternative farm-based enterprises. This grant will be used to purchase a well driller, mentor farmer, and supplies that these farmers need to expand program.
Improving Youth Livestock and Dairy Opportunities
The Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show is an annual show that brings in young farmers from all over the piedmont region of the state that can total to over 200 youth participants in livestock and dairy shows. The grant will be used to fund needed repairs on the Central Carolina Holstein barn in the Orange Grove Community.
Star Center of Montgomery Heritage and Agribusiness Project
The Star Center of Montgomery Heritage and Agribusiness Project will renovate their facility near town hall in Star to be used for a growing agri-business/heritage center that will provide educational demonstrations, a general store that will specialize in locally produced meats, fruits, and vegetables, as well as baked goods and locally made arts and crafts. This grant will be used to fund renovation, building materials, and advertisements and marketing of this facility.
Richmond County Beekeeping Equipment Share Program
The Richmond County Beekeeping Association will be purchasing a mobile honey extraction and bottling unit for small beekeepers in Richmond and neighboring counties. This grant will be used to purchase this equipment and for marketing and outreach opportunities to reach more customers and farmers in the county and surrounding communities.
Improvements to Increase Fresh Blueberry Production
The Carolina Blueberry Association will be increasing their profit margins by increasing the size of the cooling facility and adding an additional load ramp, increasing their fresh poundage. This grant will be used to assist in purchasing 40 HP Pre – cooler, a condensing unit and cooler walls and panels.
2010 Projects:
Saura Pride Purple Potato Transport project,
The group will receive funding for the development of a transport system that will give them the tools and resources to manage a larger network of growers, as well as supporting increased production, marketing, processing, grading and transport without any additional costs to the farmer. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Piedmont Local Food distribution Project
Brenda has headed up a group of area farmers interested in pooling together to market their products over the internet. Her group will receive $30,000 for equipment that will allow farmers to manage an internet based marketing system for sale of local food to regional restaurants. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Lee's Rabbit Marketing & Production
Lee’s project is to create a local rabbit marketing and distribution hub in Caldwell County. The money will go towards a heating and a drinking system, as well as the building of a rabbit barn and collection center for his group of 26 growers. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Fruit Processing Facility
This project will receive $30,000 to develop a processing facility that will allow fifteen blackberry farmers to add value to the otherwise unmarketable berries, and sell them to a ready market of wine producers, jam and jelly companies, as well as open the door to other berry types and farmers in the area who wish to capitalize on second quality fruits. (Information: 919-323-7587)
No-Till Drill
The cooperative consists of 11 active row crop farmers. They shared ownership of no-till drill that allows these farmers to reduce production costs, farm in a more environmentally sensitive manner, and access federal no-till incentive programs. (Information: 919-545-4847)
Innovative Handling Practices of Prawns
The APC will acquire equipment for efficient handling and transporting of live prawn from APC members ponds to the Cooperative’s central facility in Walstonburg where they will be held live or processed for fresh, on-ice sales. (Information: 919-545-4847)
Exotic Mushroom Farming
The coalition includes 10 minority farmers from Duplin, Sampson, Wayne, Johnston, Nash, Bladen, Pender, Onslow and Jones Counties. They will receive hands-on training from NC A & T State University year-round on intensive production of exotic mushrooms in a small farm environment. (Information: 919-545-4847)
Perquimans County Farmers Market
The Perquimans County Farmer’s Market, through a cooperative sustainable and entrepreneurial partnership of community agencies, growers and merchants, provide locally grown and made produce and products to the community. They are adding the services of market coordinator for 20 weeks to help develop new skills in marketing and outreach. (Information: 919-545-4847)
Cape Fear Farmer's Market
The Elizabethtown Farmer’s Market project is the combined effort of town leaders and farmers in the Bladen county area to aid their local economy through building customer/farmer relations. The market will provide year-round space for local farmers to market produce and other items. (Information: 919-259-4101)
Wilson County Farmers Market
The Wilson County Farmers Market is a past recipient of a community grant which was used to expand the market shelter. Hoping to increase their customer base, the market staff plan to purchase billboard, radio and newspaper space to advertise the market. (919-259-4101)
Carrboro Farmers’ Market Payment Program
To increase farmer sales, the Carrboro market plans to institute wireless capabilities for processing credit and debit cards as well as electronic benefits (EBT/SNAP) from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP). They are planning an outreach campaign to community centers of diverse populations, promoting the health benefits of buying locally grown produce. (919-259-4101)
Alamance County Cattlemen’s Association (ACCA)
The ACCA is constructing a first class facility that will provide
area livestock producers with a marketing venue for selling their calves at a significantly improved profitability. Calves can be brought to the facility, sorted, weighed, tagged and placed into pens with like weighted cattle to produce truckload lots of 50,000 lbs to high-value buyers. (919-259-4101)
Value-Added Juicing/UV at Piedmont Food
The goal of this project is to provide local farmers and other producers with access to simple, easy to use, lowcost juice production equipment, enhancing post-harvest opportunities to create value-added products. (919-259-4101)
Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative
The goal of this project is to significantly increase the amount of local produce purchased by local households and to increase the farmers’ share of consumer food dollars. The grant will fund design, start-up and operations of a cooperative enterprise that sells and delivers boxes of local food to consumers in Moore County. (919-259-4101)
Roxboro’s Farmers Market
Town and county staffers have worked together to build a new farmers market in a location that would be more convenient to and attract a regular customer base. They plan to build a 40x100 structure near Wal-Mart in Roxboro. (919-259-4101)
Sustainable Agricultural Farm Lending Tool Library
This group of young produce farmers is building an equipment lending library that will allow association members to expand their farming operations without adding the financial burden that would come from purchasing individual farming equipment. (919-545-4847)
Growing Future Farmers for Food Preservation Organically
The New Life project provides workshops and trainings for young people and new farmers to learn new and innovative methods of agricultural-based enterprises.
Past Projects:
2009
Waxhaw Farmers Market Sustainability and Development Project
The board of the Waxhaw Farmers Market has worked diligently for establishment of a semi-permanent farmers market in Waxhaw, Union County. The group had to relocate the market after the downtown land they were using was sold for development, and their newly acquired site badly needed tent structures. They received funding for the structures, as well as marketing and management of the Waxhaw farmers market. The market will support approximately 25 local producers and provide the town of Waxhaw with a supply of locally produced food. The review board appreciated the cooperation and excellent organization behind the project. (information: 919-621-0534)
Collette Nester’s Blue Ridge Farmers Market
Collette Nester’s project is an indoor farmers’ market featuring her pasture raised pork as well as an array of all-local products including meats, cheese, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Collette proved to be an excellent resource for farmers in her region around Alleghany County, and had already laid the ground work for a successful market before the doors were open, through networking and sourcing of a diverse product mix, and completing a marketing strategy. The storefront was not yet available at the time of the site visit. Collette has dealt with challenges from not anticipating the level of capital investment in the start-up phase of the store. Since the visit however, she has opened the store with great success in her first few weeks and is hearing praise from farmers and shoppers alike. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Appalachian Berries LLC’s marketing processing quality blackberries
Wayne Mitchem grows blackberries for Sunnyridge Farms along with several neighbors in Lincoln and Cleveland County. His project is designed to save blackberry farmers money through the marketing and sale of processing quality berries. According to Wayne, “This year has been especially wet leading up to blackberry season and the need to have a back-up plan is even more pressing if berries get too wet.” Wayne’s blackberry farm was just at the point of bloom at the time of the visit. He expressed his gratitude for a chance to build some cost-reducing opportunities into his business. Wayne also led a tour of the newly built Sunnyridge distribution facility that was preparing for a big year, undertaking the huge task of insulating entire sections of the warehouse for storage and shipment. Wayne has a good relationship with the company agronomist that helps him with pest-management and was looking forward to the season getting started. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Glycerine to Greenhouses
This project utilizes glycerine, which is abundant as a byproduct of biodiesel, for fuel to heat greenhouses. There are two greenhouses which will be used to test different boiler machines to determine the best method. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Wilson Farmers Market
The Wilson Farmers Market was organized in 2008 and opened a cooperative market under an open 30 x 50 shelter at the Wilson County Fair Grounds. The timing was ideal and the market has outgrown its space in one season. Our goal is to expand the current shelter space by adding 30 feet to the main shelter and 10 feet to each side of the shelter. This will allow the market expand from 10 to 18 producers/vendors. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Foothills Family Farms
Foothill Family Farms is a membership based organization of farmers, craft artists, and consumers in McDowell County. Foothills provides cooperative marketing and technical assistance to area farmers. Over the past two years the growers have experienced soaring sales and increased membership. As a result the organization is pursuing an expansion in infrastructure through the establishment of a facilty for receiving, distribution and processing in conjunction with the establishment of a retail market. (Information: 919-323-7587)
2007
Developing Infrastructure and Markets—Prize of the
Harvest—Granville County
This project will provide for continuing development of vegetable
distribution infrastructure. The purchase of an ice machine will
enable the Prize of the Harvest growers to provide a higher quality
product and access markets that are currently not an option.
Quality Vegetable Production—Stokes County Growers
Coop—Stokes County
This project is intended to assist members of the Stokes County
Growers Coop to access needed technical assistance in various aspects
of vegetable production and to obtain equipment that will help defer
the start-up investment required for new growers to get involved
with the cooperative.
cers.
2003
1998
Columbus County Farmers Market
Columbus County
The market plans to outreach to 200 tobacco farmers; there will be a speical focus on using tobacco greenhouses to expand the product base for the market. The goals of the farmers market project are to:
- increase farmer income from other crops
- increase business activity in sowntown Whiteville
- provide consumers with fresh agricultural products
Edgecombe Mortality Disposal Center
Edgecombe County
This project is designed to increase income from livestock and poultry production by helping farmers solve the problem of dealing with mortality (dead animal) disposal, meet Department of Environmental Management requirements and create a value-added product. for this project, the farm community wil create local facilitites to handle dead animals in a regional rendering plan oerated and owned by farmers. Rendering products will be sold to oen of three companies.
Lillington Farmers Market
Harnett County
The market will provide opportunity to local farmers for direct marketing of their crops and products. The market has 20 members with room for 40 more.
Johnston County Goat Producers: Goat Meat Marketing
Johnston County
The Community Goat Association of Johnston County is a new group that is working to improve the marketing of goat meat in the greater Raleigh area. The group has 35 members of which one-quarter are current tobacco growers. They have proposed to develop a collective marketing approach; the intent is to develop a formal marketing group that will add product value through vertical integration and cooperative processing. They will conduct outreach by adding more members and presenting demonstrations on goat raising and amrketing.