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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.
ELGL (Emerging Local Government Leaders) Food Economies Webinar
ECO Farmer Age and IT Software Research (2014)
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual Conference
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)
Cost Effective Procurement of Local Strawberries from NC (2015)
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Produce Distribution Center (2014)
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
Economic Development for Extension Agents at Annual Extension Conference
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
What Do All These Label Claims Really Mean? (2017)
An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: National and State Perspectives (2013)
Hubs & Kitchens: Food Hubs, Commercial Community Kitchens, and Copackers in NC (2017)
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Local Produce (2016)
Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018)
North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013)
Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014)
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
How to Sell Pastured Meat Products to Grocery Stores via Direct Store Delivery (2016)
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government
Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014)
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Sourcing Local Foods (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.
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014)
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
Growing Specialty Vegetables for Ethnic Markets in North Carolina (2020)
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
Food & Farm Financing Summit: SBC Annual Conference, March 2017
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014)
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
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
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meat
Best Practices for Grading and Packing of Fresh Produce (2015)
Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017)
Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016)
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops
Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
Selling Fluid Milk to Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2016)
NC Catch Local Seafood Market Lists (2017)
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
Basic Legal Structures for Local Foods Value Chain Businesses
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.