NC Growing Together

North Carolina Growing Together (NCGT) is a five year USDA-funded project that aims to bring more locally-produced foods into mainstream markets, strengthening the economics of small to mid-sized farm and fishing operations and their communities.

NC Growing Together integrates Research, Academics, and Extension –bringing more North Carolina produce, meat, dairy, and seafood into retail and food service supply chains by:

• Researching and identifying best practices for cooperative production and aggregation of products from small and mid-sized producers to larger-scale distribution partners.
• Providing support and technical assistance to small and mid-sized producers to enable them to meet buyer requirements, including Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) certification of their farms.
• Providing training and capacity-building in local food system issues for Extension agents who work in the field.
• Convening “Meet the Buyer” speed-networking opportunities to connect producers who are interested in selling into larger markets with retail and other buyers who are interested in purchasing from local producers.
• Creating learning opportunities for students through local foods MBA supply chain fellowships and courses at NC State’s Poole College of Management Supply Chain Resource Cooperative.
• Sponsoring paid student apprenticeships at NCGT partner organizations, food hubs, food distributors, and retailers to support the next generation of business leaders committed to building local food systems.