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.
Sourcing Local Tomatoes to Minimize Food Loss (2018)Waystone Design2018-09-27T11:58:38-04:00
Sourcing Local Tomatoes to Minimize Food Loss (2018)
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Pork (2016)CEFS2021-10-27T12:05:28-04:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Pork (2016)
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:21:19-04:00
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)
Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual ConferenceLaura Lauffer2016-12-05T11:24:20-05:00
Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual Conference
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select CropsWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:19:19-04:00
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops
NCGT Pastured Poultry Feasibility Study (2016)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:03:32-04:00
NCGT Pastured Poultry Feasibility Study (2016)
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop ManualWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:20:00-04:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning GuideWaystone Design2018-09-24T15:04:27-04:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:02:44-04:00
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)
Best practices and metrics for dairy farms transitioning conventional dairy operations to on-farm value-added production (2015)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:00:51-04:00
Best practices and metrics for dairy farms transitioning conventional dairy operations to on-farm value-added production (2015)
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:06:46-04:00
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:48:46-04:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017)CEFS2021-10-27T12:00:36-04:00
Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017)
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:15:10-04:00
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:48:37-04:00
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:17:35-04:00
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies WebinarLaura Lauffer2016-11-26T09:34:07-05:00
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)Marcello Cappellazzi2021-10-27T12:12:54-04:00
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and RecommendationsWaystone Design2018-09-24T20:03:36-04:00
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of GovernmentLaura Lauffer2022-04-18T11:01:07-04:00
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-27T18:08:31-04:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:17:41-04:00
On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017)
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)Shane McCoy2021-10-27T17:24:40-04:00
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer InternshipWaystone Design2018-09-25T22:27:58-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
NCGT Shrimp Processing Feasibility Study (2015)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:05:37-04:00
NCGT Shrimp Processing Feasibility Study (2015)
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)CEFS2021-10-27T12:05:35-04:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
Scaling up at a Local Grain Mill (2017)Waystone Design2018-09-27T11:58:49-04:00
Scaling up at a Local Grain Mill (2017)
Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018)Waystone Design2018-09-27T11:58:22-04:00
Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018)
Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:07:08-04:00
Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014)
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:16:39-04:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food BusinessesWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:21:25-04:00
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
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.
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)Janie Hynson2021-10-27T17:22:56-04:00
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-27T18:08:48-04:00
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
Breaking Down the Cost of Grassfed Beef (2016)CEFS2021-10-27T12:04:08-04:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Grassfed Beef (2016)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer InternshipWaystone Design2018-09-25T22:47:18-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:48:37-04:00
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:16:39-04:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014)Shane McCoy2021-10-25T16:34:55-04:00
Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer InternshipWaystone Design2018-09-25T22:27:58-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:17:23-04:00
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-15T18:07:27-04:00
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)Waystone Design2018-09-27T12:21:19-04:00
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop ManualWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:20:00-04:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business WebsitesWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:21:30-04:00
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
NC Catch Local Seafood Market Lists (2017)Marcello Cappellazzi2021-10-27T17:17:14-04:00
NC Catch Local Seafood Market Lists (2017)
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-27T18:08:31-04:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer InternshipWaystone Design2018-09-25T22:35:07-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016)Waystone Design2021-10-15T17:55:38-04:00
Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016)
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)Shane McCoy2021-10-27T17:24:56-04:00
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)
Open Forum: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis (2021)Janie Hynson2021-10-27T17:24:14-04:00
Open Forum: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis (2021)
Bulk Meat Purchase Agreement Template (2020)Marcello Cappellazzi2021-10-27T12:12:44-04:00
Bulk Meat Purchase Agreement Template (2020)
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)Shane McCoy2021-10-27T17:25:12-04:00
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)Shane McCoy2021-10-27T17:24:40-04:00
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)Waystone Design2018-09-27T11:56:48-04:00
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-DeliveryWaystone Design2018-09-24T10:03:49-04:00
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:08:23-04:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:17:35-04:00
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)Waystone Design2021-10-27T17:48:46-04:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food BusinessesWaystone Design2021-10-27T17:21:19-04:00
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning GuideWaystone Design2018-09-24T15:04:27-04:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)CEFS2021-10-27T12:05:35-04:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
NC Growing Together News
View our full newsfeed of NC Growing Together News.
NC Farm to Early Care and Education Brings Together Children, Food, and Community
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
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
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
Whole Crop Harvest (WCH) is bringing together partners from across the supply chain to reduce on-farm produce loss and increase farmer profitability.
This project is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grant no. 2013-68004-20363 of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
