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MBA Student Supply Chain and Marketing Research Teams
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Innovations in Economic Development Through Local Foods Regional Gatherings
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Local Foods as Economic Development
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Good Agricultural Practices Workshops
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Local Food Supply Chain Apprentices
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Postharvest Handling Workshops
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Supporting Market Growth for Grade 2 Produce
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Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training
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Connecting Small and Mid-sized Farmers with Institutional Markets
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Season Extension Workshops
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Supply Chain Resource Cooperative Student Projects
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NC Growing Together and NC Choices Meat Quality Project
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Developing Resources for Producers and Supply Chain Intermediaries
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Grower-Buyer Networking Events
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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.
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Sourcing Local Foods (2014)
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
Hosting Food & Farm Business Training Programs at Community Colleges (2017)
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
Market Channel Evaluation: Analysis of a Direct-Store-Delivery Pilot for Local Meat (2014)
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
Planning Guide for Small Business Center – Cooperative Extension Collaborations
What Do All These Label Claims Really Mean? (2017)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014)
Scaling a “Local to Local” Solution: Supply Chain Analysis for Delivering Local Fresh Produce to Local Grocery Stores (2014)
NC Growing Together Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship (2018)
Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Shelf Life
Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
Sourcing Local Tomatoes to Minimize Food Loss (2018)
Project Meatball: The Business Case for a New Product Venture (2016)
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
Economic Development for Extension Agents at Annual Extension Conference
Seal the Seasons: The Business Case for Expansion into Food Service Markets (2016)
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)
Hosting Local Food Events with Grocery Stores & Retailers (2017)
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)
Establishing Partnerships with Food Retailers to Conduct Local and Healthy Food Choice Research (2016)
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
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.
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
Open Forum: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis (2021)
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)
Bulk Meat Purchase Agreement Template (2020)
Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017)
How it Works Handbook: A Guide to University Food Systems and Local Food Programs (2018)
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014)
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Basic Legal Structures for Local Foods Value Chain Businesses
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
For Artisan Cheesemakers: What to Ask and What to Expect When Working with Distributors and Retailers (2016)
Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014)
Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets
Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016)
eCommerce and Practices Presentation (2020)
NC Growing Together News
View our full newsfeed of NC Growing Together News.
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.
Whole Crop Harvest Brings Together Supply Chain Partners for Grade 2 Produce
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:26:58-04:00July 25th, 2018|
Whole Crop Harvest (WCH) is bringing together partners from across the supply chain to reduce on-farm produce loss and increase farmer profitability.
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.