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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.
Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017)
Guide to Social & Online Media for Producers in Wholesale Markets
Market Channel Evaluation: Analysis of a Direct-Store-Delivery Pilot for Local Meat (2014)
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)
ECO Farmer Age and IT Software Research (2014)
Scaling up at a Local Grain Mill (2017)
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government
NC Growing Together Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship (2018)
Best practices and metrics for dairy farms transitioning conventional dairy operations to on-farm value-added production (2015)
NCGT Shrimp Processing Feasibility Study (2015)
Local + Sustainable Seafood: The Competitive Advantage (2014)
Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting
NCGT Pastured Poultry Feasibility Study (2016)
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Sourcing Local Foods (2014)
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar
Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014)
Seal the Seasons: The Business Case for Expansion into Food Service Markets (2016)
Cost Effective Procurement of Local Strawberries from NC (2015)
Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018)
Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Special Claims and the Approval Process for Niche Meat Production (2014)
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016)
Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual Conference
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
The Good Food Schema: Effects of Compelling Messaging for Locally Sourced Meat Products in Grocery Store Settings (2014)
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.
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets
Breaking Down the Cost of Grassfed Beef (2016)
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
Guide to Social & Online Media for Producers in Wholesale Markets
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014)
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014)
NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016)
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
eCommerce and Practices Presentation (2020)
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
How it Works Handbook: A Guide to University Food Systems and Local Food Programs (2018)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
Open Forum: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis (2021)
NC Growing Together News
View our full newsfeed of NC Growing Together News.
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.
Whole Crop Harvest Partners with Ashley Christensen’s AC Restaurants to Research Economics of Preserving Seasonal Local Tomatoes for Year-Round Use
Waystone Design2018-09-14T21:37:38-04:00July 25th, 2018|
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
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.