During the Thanksgiving season, we’re grateful for farmers in our community for the abundance of food on our tables. Three women farmers in Western NC shared their farming experiences during this challenging year, what it means to them to farm as women and how they continued to grow and distribute their goods in their [...]
Mallaidh Mleziva shares her work & reflects on her EMFS Apprenticeship at Sustainabillies Mallaidh Mleziva is a 2020 graduate from Western Carolina University and one of the EMFS Summer Apprentices. Christina Newhouse, the Apprenticeship Program Manager for EMFS, has been collaborating with Western Carolina University (WCU) Professors Heidi Dent, DBA, MBA and Barbara [...]
The EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project is partnering with Blue Ridge Food Ventures (BRFV) to support value-added production in our region. Producers are eligible to receive up to $3,000 in technical support, consulting, and rental fees associated with production at the BRFV facility. This article will help you as a producer determine the value of [...]
EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) is excited to announce that Gnome Mountain Farms is the second recipient of funding from EMFS grant and loan program! The program is designed to “buy down” the cost of purchasing equipment or infrastructure for farm and food businesses, and is a partnership between Carolina Farm Credit and EMFS, which [...]
I am Lisa, your Local Foods Extension Agent and part of the EMFS team. We at EMFS hope you are doing well, staying safe and finding peace during this difficult time. We also wanted to let you know that as of right now we are continuing to maintain operations and provide support for our clients. [...]
The Mountaineer is helping us get the word out about our free "How to Make More Money on the Farm" seminar. Check out the article here: https://www.themountaineer.com/news/business/learn-how-to-increase-farm-income-at-winter-seminar/article_65d2c218-2360-11ea-b578-27668323973c.html Event Information and Registration The How to Make More Money on the Farm event is being held in three different counties to help as many food related businesses [...]
EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) is excited to announce that Waynesville Soda Jerks is the first recipient of the EMFS grant and loan program! The program is designed to “buy down” the cost of purchasing equipment or infrastructure for farm and food businesses, and is a partnership between Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) and EMFS, [...]
The local paper that covers Macon county did a wonderful article on how EMFS is helping local farms and food businesses. Check it out here: https://www.themountaineer.com/news/grant-program-seeks-to-grow-farm-incomes/article_abada3a2-226b-11ea-9ae9-777687c056e7.html
Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) are teaming up to provide affordable financing and support to small– and mid-scale and limited resource farmers and food businesses to obtain the infrastructure they need to expand and grow their businesses. What’s the Program For? This grant/loan program is designed to “buy down” [...]
Paid student apprenticeships with area food and farm businesses are now open for applications from WNC students. The apprenticeship program is part of the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project in the seven western counties of North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Mountain Food & Farm Apprenticeship Program [...]
