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1. Invest in educating new farmers about ways to access <br />different market channels and provide models for success. <br />Two resources include NC Choices and Appalachian Sustainable <br />Development Project's "Marketing Opportunities for Farmers" <br />conference. For additional information related to direct <br />markets, see Marketing and Distribution. <br />2. Investigate processing and distribution models that serve <br />small and mid -sized producers. One example is the Appalachian <br />Harvest Network, a group of certified organic family farmers <br />in southwest Virginia who make locally grown, organic produce <br />and free range eggs available to area supermarkets. <br />http://www.asdevelop.org/appharvest.html <br />3. Invest County resources in a consumer education initiative <br />that highlights local farmers, connects consumers with them <br />and provides examples of ways to use fresh produce. For an <br />example of online and print resources that direct people to <br />local food and farmers, see http: //buyappalachian.org /. <br />} yi <br />22 CENTER for ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING SYSTEMS <br />The summary below includes key points taken from telephone <br />and in- person interviews with individual beef producers and <br />independent retail operators, as well as from comments made <br />during a consumer focus group. <br />Questions for individual producers were designed to <br />determine priorities and challenges for Cabarrus farmers. <br />Questions for focus group participants were designed to gauge <br />consumers' opinions about purchasing locally- raised beef. <br />County extension staff was interviewed to gather information <br />about current programs and county -wide conditions. <br />Throughout the interview process, attention was given <br />to the following questions: What assistance and support do <br />local beef farmers need to sell their beef to local and regional <br />markets? What markets are potentially accessible to farmers <br />selling local and /or all natural beef? What barriers prevent <br />farmers from accessing these markets? What opportunities <br />exist for regional collaboration? <br />' <br />M <br />photo: Jennifer Curtis <br />Attachment number 1 <br />is <br />Page 636 <br />