NC Choices

NC Choices, an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in collaboration with NC Cooperative Extension, promotes sustainable food systems through the advancement of the local, niche, and pasture-based meat supply chain in North Carolina. NC Choices provides information, technical assistance, educational programming, and networking opportunities for farmers, extension agents, meat processors, buyers, distributors, and consumers.

COVID-19 Updates:

See processing information here and see all of CEFS’ COVID-19 Resources here

New for 2020, NC Choices Proudly Introduces MeatSuite.com to North Carolina Farmers and Consumers.

On MeatSuite.com farmers can create a free profile to sell pasture-raised meat in bulk and consumers can find local farms to purchase from nearby.

For Buyers: Interested in finding your farmer on MeatSuite.com? It’s easy! Check out this short VIDEO and visit MeatSuite.com to get started!

For Farmers: Want to gain more customers by adding your farm to MeatSuite.com? It’s free and easy! Check out this short VIDEO to learn how to sign up. Additional resources and step-by-step instructions can be found HERE.

NC Choices Supports Beginning Meat Producers with Business Resources, Training, and Land-Lease Opportunities

NC Choices launches a new USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher grant focused on increasing the number of beginning farmers raising meat through either pasture-based or silvopasture systems by providing them with novel land acquisition strategies, resources, and training opportunities to increase skills, decision-making tools, and the market and buyer connections needed to operate profitably.

NC Choices will help pair beginning farmers with solar farms, landowners with woodland plots for silvopasture, and land conservancy land under conservation easements across the state.

THINK YOU MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT?

Are you a beginning NC meat producer (raising meat animals for 10 years or less) looking to lease land?

Are you a NC land owner with woodland acreage, land under conservation easement, or solar panel installations interested in working with grazing animal production?

Please click here to learn more about the project and fill out an “interest form” and a team member will be in touch with you.

Poultry Processing Updates:

Due to the 2017 closure of Foothills Pilot Plant, information and updates on the status of  poultry processing options across the state can be found below.  Click to view the following:

• Updates on the Status of Poultry Processing in the State
• List of Farmer Operators Granted Exemption to Process Birds for Other Farms (1st tab)
• List of Poultry Mobile Processing Equipment for Rent (3rd tab)
• Closest USDA Poultry Processors for Small Farmers that are Currently Accepting New Customers
• Labeling Requirements and Additional Resources for On-Farm Poultry Processing

NC Choices News