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.
- High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017 Waystone Design 2019-03-05T13:05:04+00:00
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
- An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: Market Readiness Assessment (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:10:44+00:00
An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: Market Readiness Assessment (2014)
- Best practices and metrics for dairy farms transitioning conventional dairy operations to on-farm value-added production (2015) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:00:51+00:00
Best practices and metrics for dairy farms transitioning conventional dairy operations to on-farm value-added production (2015)
- 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)
- 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)
- Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Pork (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-09-24T23:36:32+00:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Pork (2016)
- Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:54:48+00:00
Understanding Packaging and Specifications for Wholesale Markets
- Basic Legal Structures for Local Foods Value Chain Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-23T15:09:11+00:00
Basic Legal Structures for Local Foods Value Chain Businesses
- 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)
- Transportation Cost Transparency for TRACTOR Food Hub (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:59:06+00:00
Transportation Cost Transparency for TRACTOR Food Hub (2017)
- Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:07:08+00:00
Market Channel Evaluation: Produce (2014)
- Special Claims and the Approval Process for Niche Meat Production (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:53:52+00:00
Special Claims and the Approval Process for Niche Meat Production (2014)
- NC Growing Together Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship (2018) Marcello Cappellazzi 2019-02-21T13:01:59+00:00
NC Growing Together Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship (2018)
- Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:52:19+00:00
Retailer Talking Points: How to Answer Consumer Questions on Local Meats (2014)
- Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017) JJ Richardson 2018-09-23T15:18:51+00:00
Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017)
- Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T14:56:56+00:00
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
- 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)
- How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:20:16+00:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
- North Carolina Farmstead Creamery Survey Report (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T20:53:19+00:00
North Carolina Farmstead Creamery Survey Report (2015)
- Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:29:19+00:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
- 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
- Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual Conference Laura Lauffer 2016-12-05T11:24:20+00:00
Keynote Presentation to SBC-SBTDC Annual Conference
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19+00:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- Maturity Models as a Diagnostic and Resource Mapping Tool for Food Hubs (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:04:49+00:00
Maturity Models as a Diagnostic and Resource Mapping Tool for Food Hubs (2014)
- 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)
- 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
- North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T21:15:37+00:00
North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013)
- Presentation: Visioning for Healthy Eating (Dan River Health Summit) Laura Lauffer 2016-11-26T09:34:07+00:00
Presentation: Visioning for Healthy Eating (Dan River Health Summit)
- Pack ‘N Cool Construction Manual and Budget Shane McCoy 2016-11-26T09:34:27+00:00
Pack ‘N Cool Construction Manual and Budget
- Adding Value to Local Food (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:28+00:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
- 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)
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.
- Adding Value to Local Food (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:28+00:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
- 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)
- Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide Waystone Design 2018-09-24T15:04:27+00:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
- 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)
- Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:56:48+00:00
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)
- Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T14:56:56+00:00
Postharvest Handling PowerPoint Presentation (2016)
- 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
- Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:29:19+00:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
- 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)
- Hosting Local Food Events with Grocery Stores & Retailers (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T11:09:47+00:00
Hosting Local Food Events with Grocery Stores & Retailers (2017)
- Collaborative Farming in NC (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:20:50+00:00
Collaborative Farming in NC (2017)
- SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:21:19+00:00
SBC-SBTDC REAL Agriculture & Cooperative Extension Curriculum Guide (2017)
- Introduction to Wholesale Marketing Curriculum Unit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:24:15+00:00
Introduction to Wholesale Marketing Curriculum Unit (2017)
- How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:20:16+00:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
- Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:43:30+00:00
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19+00:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- 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)
- Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018) Marcello Cappellazzi 2018-09-27T11:55:09+00:00
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
- Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:55:23+00:00
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
- 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
- On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:21:46+00:00
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)
- Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:31:43+00:00
Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016)
- Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:59:51+00:00
Guide to Hosting Mini Food Shows (2017)
- 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
- 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)
- Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:41+00:00
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
- 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
- Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-09-24T23:36:18+00:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Pastured Chicken (2016)
- Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:03:49+00:00
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
- Special Claims and the Approval Process for Niche Meat Production (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:53:52+00:00
Special Claims and the Approval Process for Niche Meat Production (2014)
- Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:41:29+00:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
NC Growing Together News
View our full newsfeed of NC Growing Together News.
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.
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.
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.
