-
MBA Student Supply Chain and Marketing Research Teams
-
Innovations in Economic Development Through Local Foods Regional Gatherings
-
Local Foods as Economic Development
-
Good Agricultural Practices Workshops
-
Local Food Supply Chain Apprentices
-
Postharvest Handling Workshops
-
Supporting Market Growth for Grade 2 Produce
-
Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training
-
Connecting Small and Mid-sized Farmers with Institutional Markets
-
Season Extension Workshops
-
Supply Chain Resource Cooperative Student Projects
-
NC Growing Together and NC Choices Meat Quality Project
-
Developing Resources for Producers and Supply Chain Intermediaries
-
Grower-Buyer Networking Events
-
Produce Grower Tours and Networking at FreshPoint
NC Growing Together
North Carolina Growing Together (NCGT) was a six-year (2013-2018) USDA-funded project led by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. The overarching goal was to achieve greater food security by enhancing the economic viability of small and mid-scale farms and fishing operations and their communities.
This website archive contains news, resources, research, and other information about the project.
Partners
NC Growing Together was highly collaborative and included dozens of partners from across the state, spanning private, public, government/military, and university sectors. See the About page for more information.
Resources
NC Growing Together produced a large number of resources to support the growth and capacity of the entire local food supply chain including producers, supply chain intermediaries, local/regional food business developers, Cooperative Extension agents, and others. Visit our full library of NC Growing Together resources here.
Agent Opportunities to Build Partnerships with Local Supermarkets through Local Food Programs
Planning Guide for Small Business Center – Cooperative Extension Collaborations
NC 10 Percent & NCGT: Grower-Buyer Connections Event Planning Guide (2024)
Scaling a “Local to Local” Solution: Supply Chain Analysis for Delivering Local Fresh Produce to Local Grocery Stores (2014)
Webinar: North Carolina Councils of Government and Local Food Economies
Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016)
Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014)
Maturity Models as a Diagnostic and Resource Mapping Tool for Food Hubs (2014)
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014)
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
The Good Food Schema: Effects of Compelling Messaging for Locally Sourced Meat Products in Grocery Store Settings (2014)
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Local Produce (2016)
NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016)
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar
Seal the Seasons: The Business Case for Expansion into Food Service Markets (2016)
Guide to Social & Online Media for Producers in Wholesale Markets
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
ECO Farmer Age and IT Software Research (2014)
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)
NC Growing Together Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship (2018)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
North Carolina Farmstead Creamery Survey Report (2015)
Comparing Entrepreneurial Solutions to Local Food Distribution (2016)
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)
Research
NC Growing Together produced research on many topics relevant to local food supply chain stakeholders. Visit our full library of NC Growing Together research here.
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
Basic Legal Structures for Local Foods Value Chain Businesses
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Hosting Food & Farm Business Training Programs at Community Colleges (2017)
How it Works Handbook: A Guide to University Food Systems and Local Food Programs (2018)
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014)
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016)
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
Bulk Meat Purchase Agreement Template (2020)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
NC Catch Local Seafood Market Lists (2017)
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets
NC Growing Together News
View our full newsfeed of NC Growing Together News.
NCGT Building Connections with Small Business Centers to Support Growth of Local Food Economy in North Carolina
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:15:16-04:00July 25th, 2018|
NC Growing Together is catalyzing ties between food and farm businesses, educators, Cooperative Extension staff, and Small Business Centers (SBC) across the state to build business support and education for a thriving local food economy.
NC Farm to Early Care and Education Brings Together Children, Food, and Community
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:08:31-04:00July 25th, 2018|
In collaboration with early educators, CEFS' Farm to Early Care and Education (NC Farm to ECE) Initiative created a series of eye-catching posters for young children that portray farmers and the vegetables they grow for their community - specifically highlighting women farmers and farmers of color.
Whole Crop Harvest Partners with Ashley Christensen’s AC Restaurants to Research Economics of Preserving Seasonal Local Tomatoes for Year-Round Use
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:37:38-04:00July 25th, 2018|
The team found that purchasing 100% North Carolina tomatoes in season reduces the restaurant group's cost by nearly half, accomplishes the goal of sourcing exclusively local tomatoes, and will likely reduce on-farm food loss.
Engaging Videos Highlight the Local Seafood Supply Chain, Local Foods as Economic Development
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:31:04-04:00July 25th, 2018|
NC Growing Together has partnered with the NC 10% Campaign and Vittles Films to produce videos about local foods.