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.
- Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:06:46+00:00
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)
- Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:32+00:00
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
- Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:41+00:00
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
- Project Meatball: The Business Case for a New Product Venture (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:59:40+00:00
Project Meatball: The Business Case for a New Product Venture (2016)
- Pack ‘N Cool Construction Manual and Budget Shane McCoy 2016-11-26T09:34:27+00:00
Pack ‘N Cool Construction Manual and Budget
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:35:07+00:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:27:19+00:00
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
- The Local Loyalty Project: Can Positioning a Regional Grocery Chain as a Purveyor of Local Foods Increase Customer Loyalty and Local Foods Sales? (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:08:52+00:00
The Local Loyalty Project: Can Positioning a Regional Grocery Chain as a Purveyor of Local Foods Increase Customer Loyalty and Local Foods Sales? (2014)
- Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Shelf Life Shane McCoy 2017-03-23T08:07:28+00:00
Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Shelf Life
- Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations Waystone Design 2018-09-24T20:03:36+00:00
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
- Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:31:43+00:00
Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016)
- High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017 Waystone Design 2019-03-05T13:05:04+00:00
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
- North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T21:15:37+00:00
North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013)
- Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:53:15+00:00
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)
- NCGT Shrimp Processing Feasibility Study (2015) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:05:37+00:00
NCGT Shrimp Processing Feasibility Study (2015)
- A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Sourcing Local Foods (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:04:00+00:00
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Sourcing Local Foods (2014)
- Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:07:08+00:00
Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014)
- Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:35:13+00:00
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19+00:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T14:56:56+00:00
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
- Webinar: North Carolina Councils of Government and Local Food Economies Laura Lauffer 2016-11-26T09:34:08+00:00
Webinar: North Carolina Councils of Government and Local Food Economies
- Sourcing Local Tomatoes to Minimize Food Loss (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:58:38+00:00
Sourcing Local Tomatoes to Minimize Food Loss (2018)
- Cost Effective Procurement of Local Strawberries from NC (2015) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:01:20+00:00
Cost Effective Procurement of Local Strawberries from NC (2015)
- Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:29:19+00:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
- ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar Laura Lauffer 2016-11-26T09:34:07+00:00
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar
- Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:41:29+00:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
- Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T20:57:42+00:00
Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014)
- Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:56:26+00:00
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
- An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: National and State Perspectives (2013) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:11:16+00:00
An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: National and State Perspectives (2013)
- What Do All These Label Claims Really Mean? (2017) JJ Richardson 2018-03-14T10:03:34+00:00
What Do All These Label Claims Really Mean? (2017)
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:27:58+00:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017 Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:43:10+00:00
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
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.
- Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:56:26+00:00
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:27:58+00:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- How to Sell Pastured Meat Products to Grocery Stores via Direct Store Delivery (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-09-24T23:46:39+00:00
How to Sell Pastured Meat Products to Grocery Stores via Direct Store Delivery (2016)
- How it Works Handbook: A Guide to University Food Systems and Local Food Programs (2018) Marcello Cappellazzi 2019-02-27T10:57:57+00:00
How it Works Handbook: A Guide to University Food Systems and Local Food Programs (2018)
- Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:32+00:00
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:35:49+00:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Agent Opportunities to Build Partnerships with Local Supermarkets through Local Food Programs Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:58+00:00
Agent Opportunities to Build Partnerships with Local Supermarkets through Local Food Programs
- Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017 Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:43:10+00:00
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
- Collaborative Farming in NC (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:20:50+00:00
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
- Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:04+00:00
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19+00:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:43:30+00:00
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:47:18+00:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:41:29+00:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
- For Artisan Cheesemakers: What to Ask and What to Expect When Working with Distributors and Retailers (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:17:44+00:00
For Artisan Cheesemakers: What to Ask and What to Expect When Working with Distributors and Retailers (2016)
- Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:33:29+00:00
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops
- Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:54:30+00:00
Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014)
- Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:35:04+00:00
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
- Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations Waystone Design 2018-09-24T20:03:36+00:00
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
- Hosting Food & Farm Business Training Programs at Community Colleges (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:24:58+00:00
Hosting Food & Farm Business Training Programs at Community Colleges (2017)
- Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:19+00:00
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014)
- Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:59:51+00:00
Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017)
- Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide Waystone Design 2018-09-24T15:04:27+00:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
- On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:22:52+00:00
On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017)
- Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:55:55+00:00
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)
- NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-10-15T16:57:40+00:00
NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016)
- How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018) Waystone Design 2019-03-28T12:07:40+00:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
- Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:27:19+00:00
Direct Marketing for Small Farms Curriculum Unit (2017)
- High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017 Waystone Design 2019-03-05T13:05:04+00:00
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
- Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:26:22+00:00
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
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
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.
NCGT Building Connections with Small Business Centers to Support Growth of Local Food Economy in North Carolina
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
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.
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.
