Qualla Boundary Women Rock the Local Food Truck Scene
The Food Truck Rodeo is a two-day event serving sizzling southern favorites, fry-bread and traditional eats. Read on to learn about the amazing women and families behind this culinary display!
Friend your Farmer: EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Launches Campaign to Thank Local, SWNC Farmers Post Pandemic
Continued appreciation for the people who grow our food, nurture our landscapes, and provide health to our communities is the inspiration for the new EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) marketing campaign - #FriendyourFarmer.
The Importance of Agriculture in Kituwah to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Community
John Dugan, a farmer from Cherokee, NC, was recently awarded a valuable new asset to his produce stand: a roomy, climate-controlled trailer he can haul behind his truck to keep produce fresh in transport. Learn more about John and the importance of agriculture in Kituway to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians community.
Agritourism Joins Outdoor Recreation as an Economic Asset in Southwestern North Carolina
Chloe Riley, an undergraduate student at NC State University (NC State) in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management recently had the opportunity to work with several professors from NC State on an exciting project with EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems.
Giving Thanks Where Thanks is Due
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 [...]
The Apprentice’s Angle: Mallaidh Mleziva
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 [...]
Why Drive to Blue Ridge Food Ventures?
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 [...]
Second Local Food Business Helped by the EMFS Grant & Loan Program: Gnome Mountain Farm
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 [...]
March 2020 Update on EMFS Programming from Lisa Gonzalez, Local Foods Agent
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 Promotes “How to Make More Money on the Farm” Seminar
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 [...]