Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WNC FARM FRESH DOUBLE SNAP NETWORK WILL IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LOCAL FOOD- AND FARM- CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNC), A REGION IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS WHERE RESIDENTS GRAPPLE WITH HIGH RATES OF POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. BY CREATING A REGIONAL NETWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ACROSS WNC, THE NETWORK WILL TEST AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE MODEL FOR EXISTING AND NEW LOCAL FIRMS THAT CENTRALIZES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OUTREACH AND PROMOTION EFFORTS, AND DATA TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT BUT CAN BE TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. THE MODEL WILL ENSURE NEW PROCESSES CAN BE BUILT INTO EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES BY OPTIMIZING CONNECTIONS FOR EXPANDED ENGAGEMENT/IMPACT. LEAD APPLICANT APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (ASAP) HAS TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING WNC'S FOOD ECONOMY; ASAP AND PARTNERS MOUNTAINWISE AND BLUE RIDGE WOMEN INAGRICULTURE HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS OPERATING SNAP INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AT A COMBINED 26 WNC FIRMS. OBJECTIVES: 1) IMPLEMENT DOUBLE SNAP INCENTIVES ACROSS 38 FIRMS TO INCREASE CONSUMPTION OF LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS; 2) SUPPORT FIRMS TO BE POSITIVE FOOD ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOSTER DIRECT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FARMERS/CONSUMERS; 3) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A REGIONAL OUTREACH/PROMOTION PLAN TO BOLSTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGES. THE NETWORK ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDES COMMUNITY PARTNERS REPRESENTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE MODEL. THIS WILL ENSURE NETWORK PROCESSES, OUTREACH, AND ENGAGEMENT ALIGN WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BUILDING FARMER RESILIENCE WITH DIRECT MARKETS

THE GOALS OF APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (ASAP)'S PROPOSED PROJECT, BUILDING RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE OF SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FARMS THROUGH DIRECT SALES, ARE TO SUPPORT SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN FARMERS AS THEY RECOVER FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TO SUPPORT THEM TO ESTABLISH LONG-TERM BUSINESS RESILIENCE. FARMERS WILL BUILD ON LESSONS FROM FARM SUCCESSES, IMPLEMENT DIRECT SALES AND MARKET DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES, AND GROW THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THE GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF ACTIVITIES WILL BOLSTER A REGIONAL COLLABORATION NETWORK THAT ENCOMPASSES WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNC), EASTERN TENNESSEE (ET), AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA (SC). THE PROJECT WILL CONNECT AND DEVELOP THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMY BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT, DEVELOPING MARKET OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUYER CONNECTIONS, REGIONAL BRANDING, BUILDING CAPACITY OF FARMERS MARKETS, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING LOCAL FOOD AWARENESS AND CONSUMPTION. FARM CAPACITY WILL BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH NETWORK SHARING, DIRECT TO CONSUMER MARKETING, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES. 800 FARMERS WILL BENEFIT, INCLUDING NEW AND BEGINNING, LIMITED RESOURCE, AND WOMEN FARMERS. DIRECT SALES WILL INCREASE 30 PERCENT FROM THIS PROJECT. 425 DIRECT MARKET OUTLETS (FARMERS MARKETS, CSAS, AGRITOURISM, ROADSIDE STANDS) AND 440 LOCAL WHOLESALE OUTLETS (RESTAURANTS, GROCERIES, INSTITUTIONS) WILL ALSO BENEFIT. THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS LAMP'S GOALS FOR CONNECTING REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMIES, STRENGTHENING CAPACITY AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND IMPROVING INCOME AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS.

LOCAL MARKETS FOR BEGINNING FARMERS: BRANDING BUSINESS PLANNING AND MENTORING FOR APPALACHIAN FARMS

DIRECT MARKETS: THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ENHANCING FARM FRESH PRODUCE PRESCRIPTIONS

GROWING DIRECT SALES FOR APPALACHIAN FARMS

TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNC) HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING DIET-RELATED DISEASES THAT ARE PREVENTABLE WITH A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THESE DISEASES ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF PREMATURE DEATH AND IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WNC RESIDENTS AND COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR IN HEALTHCARE COSTS. RESEARCH POINTS TO THE ROLE THAT SOCIAL NORMS AND FOOD ENVIRONMENTS PLAY IN THE PREVALENCE OF EXTRA WEIGHT AND OBESITY. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANT HEALTH THROUGH INCREASED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION, IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS, AND DECREASE DIET-RELATED DISEASE AND THE NEED FOR HEALTHCARE BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LOCAL FOOD- AND FARM-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS AND ACTIVITIES.THIS PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT A FARM FRESH PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM CENTERED ON DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SALES. THE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE WEEKLY FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR FRESH, LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AND INCREASE CONSUMPTION. TO ENCOURAGE HABIT FORMATION, PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE ISSUED AS A SIX MONTH "DOSE," WITH AN OPTIONAL "REFILL," FOR A TOTAL OF UP TO ONE YEAR OF WEEKLY PRESCRIPTIONS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ADDRESSES THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF EATING AND LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS THAT INFLUENCE WHAT WE EAT AND DETERMINE LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND HEALTHCARE USAGE. LOCAL FOOD- AND FARM-LINKED ENVIRONMENTS AND ACTIVITIES (LIKE FARMERS MARKETS AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS) ARE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL CONTEXTS THAT ENGAGE PEOPLE IN POSITIVE FOOD EXPERIENCES AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND CREATE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT A CULTURE OF HEALTHY EATING. THIS PROGRAM WILL REMOVE FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND INFORMATIONAL BARRIERS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINIANS FACE ACCESSING FRESH, LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, RESULTING IN A HEALTHIER AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY AND A STRONGER LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

APPLACHIAN GROWN: RISK MANAGEMENT THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND MARKETING INITIATIVES

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

RME OUTREACH AWARD

RME OUTREACH

APPALACHIAN GROWN: TRAINING AND NETWORKING TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL FARM TOURS AND FARM TOURISM

TO PROVIDE THE LIMITED RESOURCE AND UNDERSERVED FRARMERS OF THE REGION THE SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NECESSARY TO ACCESS AND OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY

MARKETS IN COMMUNITY: DEVELOPING CSAS IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN

2016 PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF

TO PROVIDE THE LIMITED RESOURCE AND UNDERSERVED FARMERS OF THE REGION THE SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS NECESSARY TO ACCESS AND OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

2014 EDUCATION AWARD

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.