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.
- Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:35:13-04:00
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
- Local + Sustainable Seafood: The Competitive Advantage (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:05:13-04:00
Local + Sustainable Seafood: The Competitive Advantage (2014)
- Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:54:30-04:00
Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014)
- Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government Laura Lauffer 2016-12-05T11:19:17-04:00
Presentation to N.C. Association of Regional Councils of Government
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:35:49-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2016 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T21:15:37-04:00
North Carolina Niche Meat Producers Survey (2013)
- How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018) Waystone Design 2019-03-28T12:07:40-04:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
- Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide Waystone Design 2018-09-24T15:04:27-04:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
- Presentation: Visioning for Healthy Eating (Dan River Health Summit) Laura Lauffer 2016-11-26T09:34:07-04:00
Presentation: Visioning for Healthy Eating (Dan River Health Summit)
- ECO Farmer Age and IT Software Research (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:04:23-04:00
ECO Farmer Age and IT Software Research (2014)
- Webinar: North Carolina Councils of Government and Local Food Economies Laura Lauffer 2016-11-26T09:34:08-04:00
Webinar: North Carolina Councils of Government and Local Food Economies
- Adding Value to Local Food (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:28-04:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:35:07-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2017 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:41-04:00
Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses
- Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting Laura Lauffer 2016-12-05T11:30:28-04:00
Presentation to the Triangle J Council of Government Board of Delegates Meeting
- Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Shelf Life Shane McCoy 2017-03-23T08:07:28-04:00
Postharvest Handling for Enhanced Shelf Life
- Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:06:46-04:00
Feasibility and Design of a Direct-to-Consumer Produce Box Program (2016)
- Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017) JJ Richardson 2018-09-23T15:18:51-04:00
Quick Guide to Common Label Claims (2017)
- An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: Market Readiness Assessment (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:10:44-04:00
An Analysis of North Carolina’s Seafood Industry: Market Readiness Assessment (2014)
- Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T20:57:42-04:00
Keep It Moving: North Carolina Seafood Transportation Logistics with a Focus on East to West Routes (2014)
- Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:58:22-04:00
Stand-alone Fresh Produce Cross-docking Facility (2018)
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19-04:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:32-04:00
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
- A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Local Produce (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:08:25-04:00
A Crossdock Consolidation Center for Local Produce (2016)
- Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:04-04:00
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
- Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T11:56:48-04:00
Local Food Supply Chain Apprenticeship: A Program Guide (2018)
- 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 2018-09-27T12:08:52-04:00
The Local Loyalty Project: Can Positioning a Regional Grocery Chain as a Purveyor of Local Foods Increase Customer Loyalty and Local Foods Sales? (2014)
- Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:55:23-04:00
Webinar: Local Food & Strategies for Councils of Government
- Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:03:49-04:00
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
- Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:02:44-04:00
Supply Chain Analysis for Grower-Based Distributors: Feasibility of Bagged Frozen Produce for Sale in Grocery Chain Retailers (2014)
- NC Statewide Niche Meat Survey Results by County (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-09-24T20:40:33-04:00
NC Statewide Niche Meat Survey Results by County (2016)
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.
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:27:58-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2015 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:21:46-04:00
On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit (2017)
- How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018) Waystone Design 2019-03-28T12:07:40-04:00
How to Sell Produce to Distributors (2018)
- Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:41:29-04:00
Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practices Workshop Manual
- Agent Opportunities to Build Partnerships with Local Supermarkets through Local Food Programs Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:58-04:00
Agent Opportunities to Build Partnerships with Local Supermarkets through Local Food Programs
- Guide to Pinterest for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:41-04:00
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 2018-09-24T23:56:26-04:00
Wholesale and Retail Product Specifications: Guidance and Best Practices for Fresh Produce for Small Farms and Food Hubs
- Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:16:52-04:00
Financial and Business Resources for Food Entrepreneurs and Farms in North Carolina (2016)
- NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-10-15T16:57:40-04:00
NC Processors That Slaughter, Process, & Vacuum Package For Farmers (2016)
- High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017 Waystone Design 2019-03-05T13:05:04-04:00
High Tunnel Management: Workshop Materials Feb. 2017
- Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:35:13-04:00
Best Practices for Temperature and Humidity Management for Fresh Produce (2015)
- Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:03:49-04:00
Bringing on New Fruit and Vegetable Farmers: A Visual Guide and Checklist for Direct-Store-Delivery
- Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:44:04-04:00
Guide to Facebook for Farm & Food Businesses
- Breaking Down the Cost of Grassfed Beef (2016) JJ Richardson 2018-09-24T23:36:05-04:00
Breaking Down the Cost of Grassfed Beef (2016)
- Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018) Marcello Cappellazzi 2018-09-27T11:55:09-04:00
Strategies to Increase Sales of Local Meat at Farmstands and Small Retailers (2018)
- Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:31:43-04:00
Distributors of NC Wild-Caught Seafood (2016)
- How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:46:55-04:00
How to Sell Shell Eggs into Grocery Stores through Direct Store Delivery (2015)
- Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:29:19-04:00
Farm and Food Business Resource Guide (2017)
- Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:43:30-04:00
Guide to Building Farm & Food Business Websites
- Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T23:54:30-04:00
Tips for Produce Growers Marketing Fresh Produce to Retail Grocers: Understanding PLU and UPC Codes (2014)
- Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:32-04:00
Process Walkthrough at a Regional Meat Distribution Center (2014)
- Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide Waystone Design 2018-09-24T15:04:27-04:00
Successful Postharvest Handling: A Workshop Planning Guide
- For Artisan Cheesemakers: What to Ask and What to Expect When Working with Distributors and Retailers (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:17:44-04:00
For Artisan Cheesemakers: What to Ask and What to Expect When Working with Distributors and Retailers (2016)
- Adding Value to Local Food (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-24T23:29:28-04:00
Adding Value to Local Food (2016)
- Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T13:10:19-04:00
Cheese Business Resource Guide (2016)
- On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:22:52-04:00
On-Farm Cold Storage Virtual Training (2017)
- Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations Waystone Design 2018-09-24T20:03:36-04:00
Authenticity and Success in Marketing “Local” — Review and Recommendations
- Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship Waystone Design 2018-09-25T22:47:18-04:00
Students in the Local Food Value Chain: Experiences from the 2018 NC Growing Together Summer Internship
- Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014) Shane McCoy 2018-09-24T17:03:11-04:00
Process Walkthrough: Direct-Store Delivery (DSD) to Retail Grocery Destinations for Niche Meat Producers (2014)
- Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017) Waystone Design 2018-09-27T12:26:22-04:00
Introduction to Food Safety Curriculum Unit (2017)
- Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops Waystone Design 2018-09-24T10:33:29-04:00
Estimated Rows and Acres of Production Per Case and Pallet at Wholesale, Select Crops
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.
