Community Partners
Below are partners and community groups dedicated to growing NC Small Farms and a resilient North Carolina.
“A human community too must collect leaves and stories, and turn them into an account. It must build soil, and build that memory of itself—in lore and story and song—which will be its culture. And these two kinds of accumulation, of local soil and local culture, are intimately related.”
Wendell Berry, The Work of Local Culture
N.C. State Cooperative Extension
What separates NC State University from other schools? The same thing that connects it to every corner of North Carolina: NC State Extension. Working hand-in-hand with our partners at N.C. A&T and 101 local governments, we conduct groundbreaking research that addresses real-world issues in communities across the state.
Center for Regeneration
The Center for Regeneration (“the Center”) is a project of Open Future Coalition (“OFC”), fiscal and philanthropic sponsors, impact investors, and participating people, groups, and projects (“Members”) developing infrastructures for personal, social, ecological, and environmental regeneration. The Center provides members with access to shared infrastructure, in-kind resources, project support and development, and access to public and philanthropic sponsors, Local Impact Capital, and impact reporting and validation tools.
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is a nonprofit based in Asheville, North Carolina, serving the Southern Appalachian region. Our mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
Southern Highlands Craft Guild
With a creative community of juried members spanning over nine states, the Southern Highland Craft Guild fosters opportunities for makers to build, market, and maintain their creative livelihood through continuing education, retail outlets, and mentorship. We are invested in helping members achieve their goals and providing them with the resources to refine and sell their craft. We educate the region and arts community on the importance of craft and its ability to impact the local creative economy. Through our retail locations, demonstrations, craft fairs, and special events, we promote the purpose and appreciation of our makers and their craft.
North Carolina Meat Processors Association
NCMPA was organized to promote, develop, and maintain the advancement of the meat processing industry. The association is comprised of Processor Members and Associate Members, and overseen by an elected Board of Directors.
North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild
North Carolina boasts the largest number of craft breweries in the American South, with more than 370 breweries and brewpubs. Our mission is to advance the interests of the craft breweries of North Carolina and to promote North Carolina craft beer.
North Carolina Apple Growers Association
North Carolina is among the top ten producers of apples in the United States. We are proud of our growing traditon that can trace it's heritage back nearly half a century! The NC Apple Growers Association has been in existence since April 1964, and provides support, information, advice, and fellowship for apple growers in North Carolina.
North Carolina Farm Fresh
North Carolina Farm Fresh is a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. It is designed to help the consumer, find the freshest locally grown fruits, vegetables, Christmas trees, ornamental plants, flowers, and herbs.
North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
NCRLA is the uniting force of the North Carolina hospitality industry. We impact legislation and policies, cultivate relationships, and provide valuable resources to help members run their businesses. NCRLA offers the hospitality industry free or discounted training and certification programs for your employees need to do their jobs safely.
Minorities in Agriculture & Natural resources Related sciences (MANRRS)
At MANRRS, you can become a member for life, where you can get involved at any stage and shape the future of agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. Our Mission at MANRRS is to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. Here, you have a valuable voice, and your participation matters.
Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
The purpose of the Cullowhee Conference is to increase interest in and knowledge of propagating and preserving native southeastern plant species in the landscape. Past participants of the conference have included landscape architects, commercial nursery operators, garden club members, botanists, and horticulturists from state highway departments, universities, native plant societies, botanical gardens, and arboretums. Both professionals and laypersons will gain valuable knowledge from the informative field trips, lectures, and workshops.
North Carolina Youth Camp Association
The mission of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association is to strengthen and expand the educational, environmental and recreational opportunities provided by all organized camps in North Carolina by encouraging cooperation among camps, sponsoring camp-specific research, communicating camp industry information, and building relationships with various private, non-profit, public, and governmental interests and agencies. NCYCA is a membership organization of North Carolina summer camps & adventure programs. It is a 501 (c) (6) non-profit organization, governed by an elected Board of Directors.
N.C. Agritourism Networking Association
Welcome to the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association. We are a member driven non-profit organization that serves Agritourism Farmers and Agritourism Professionals throughout North Carolina and surrounding states. We are a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that promotes networking between Agritourism Professionals, works to grow the Agritourism Industry by public education and promotion of agritourism and education to our dedicated members, governmental and elected officials and policy makers.
North Carolina Blueberry Council
The North Carolina Blueberry Council is one of the USA’s oldest organizations representing blueberry growers and their partners. Our missions is to support initiatives that produce better blueberries, build a stronger blueberry industry and create consumer “blueberry awareness”. We are focused at building partnerships between blueberry growers and the services they need., One of the many benefits of being a partner or vendor member of the North Carolina Blueberry Council, Inc. is a listing in our Blueberry Business Directory.
North Carolina Composting Council
The NC Composting Council is all about creating healthy soils. We are a non-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to the development, expansion, and promotion of composting based on sound science, principles of sustainability, and economic viability. We are part of a growing network of organizations collaborating with the US Composting Council. Get earthy, get involved!
North Carolina Green Industry Council
We are North Carolina’s green industry, a diverse and vibrant industry that has a significant impact on the economy of our state. The total economic impact of the NC Green Industry has been as high as $8.6 Billion. In previous years the total employment by the NC Green Industry accounted for over 150,000 jobs. The NC Green Industry’s total economic impact exceeded that of NASCAR by over $3B and the food service industry by over $4B. The NC Green Industry is the fastest growing segment of agriculture in North Carolina.
N.C. Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association
For almost 40 years, the Association has been proud to promote and develop all phases of the greenhouse vegetable industry, providing its members a voice to help build state agricultural policy through the horticultural Council and NC Farm Bureau. We provide our members the opportunity to communicate with other growers, build knowledge and strength in the industry, helping with NCDA and CS Marketing Assitance. The North Carolina Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association is also leading the way in industry research on breeding, growing and pest management, production, sanitation, and marketing, and sponsors shows, sales, exhibitors, and contests.
North Carolina Herb Association
N.C. Herb Association is an official state commodity group, with advisors from N.C. State University and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Its purpose is to promote the production, marketing, and use of herbs and herb-related products through education and research.
North Carolina State Beekeepers Association
The NCSBA is the foundation of beekeeping in North Carolina, reinforced with the cooperative efforts of the NCSU Entomology Extension Apiary Program and the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division Apiary Services. With 4000+ members statewide and beyond our borders, we are the largest and one of the most active state beekeeping organizations in the country.
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission
The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission Inc. is a nonprofit corporation of over 400 sweet potato growers and the packers, processors, and business associates that support them. The commission's sole purpose is to increase sweet potato consumption through education, promotional activities, research, and honorable horticultural practices among its producers. Thanks to the six sweet potato farmers that chartered the commission in 1961, the commission has supported its growers and maintained North Carolina as the No. 1 sweet potato producing state in the United States since 1971.
North Carolina wine growers Association
Winding your way down the majestic mountains, cruising through the panoramic Piedmont, and entering the sunny sand hills, you will likely come tantalizingly close to many of our 400+ vineyards. The wineries in North Carolina are indeed surrounded by scenic views as varied as the grapes you’ll find here. And with one of the most diverse climates of any eastern state, our growers benefit from being able to produce a variety of unique grape species and savory wine flavors. No wonder North Carolina ranks as a top-five destination for wine travelers and enthusiasts. They know the best of all worlds is right here.
N.C. Wine
North Carolina tasting rooms welcome wine enthusiasts of every palate. And each winery is surrounded by scenic views as varied as the grapes you’ll find here, all with signature Southern hospitality included. So grab a glass, request a winery guide and plan your trip to discover North Carolina wine country – no sommelier required.