By Bridget Kennedy, ASAP Farm Outreach Coordinator ~
As ASAP’s farm outreach coordinator, there are many reasons for me to visit a farmer at their farm: to conduct a marketing consultation, to assess their business model, to help them connect with new markets, to gather photos for profiles and stories…the list goes on. I will admit, though, I recently traveled to Appalachian Grown™ farm Hominy Valley Farms Land & Cattle in Candler, NC, with a selfish motive. Besides discussing her workshop at our upcoming annual Business of Farming Conference (http://www.asapconnections.org/conference.html), I was determined to better understand the beef industry. With a background primarily in produce before joining ASAP last year, I was in need of a beef education.
In my short time at ASAP, I have realized very quickly that I can learn more from talking to a farmer than just about anyone else in the field of agriculture. They are in the midst of it on a daily basis, and they have learned the hard lessons. So, I was excited to sit down with Hominy Valley owner/operator Jeanette Wilson to hear her thoughts about beef. Her family has a long history of raising cattle. Her grandparents farmed the family land starting in the 1930s. Back then, they raised cattle, along with tobacco and other crops. They sold their cows to the stock yard where they would go off to another farm to be “finished.” And most of their produce went to wholesale markets.
Today, Jeanette, her husband, Frank, and their family run a different type of beef operation. They raise their cows to maturity and sell beef directly to their customers. They represent a small group of cattle producers that direct market their farm-raised beef. That means you can purchase their products from their small farm store in Candler or at Asheville City Market (http://www.asapconnections.org/citymarket.html) where they vend.
After broadening my understanding of their operation and the beef industry in general, we did move into my comfort zone—the world of produce—as they also grow a variety of veggies. We chatted about the ins and outs of selling to restaurants and designing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture, or a farm share subscription program; learn more about CSAs HERE.)
We ended with a discussion of a new marketing approach that Jeanette began last year. She made lemons out of lemonade after an attempt at developing a small tailgate market for residents of Biltmore Lake proved unsuccessful. Jeanette has an amazing manner about her, which draws people in and establishes trust. This is a benefit for her direct marketing approach. Consumers like you want to know who grows their food. You want to be able to look farmers in the eye and ask questions about how their animals were raised and what they spray on their vegetables. Jeanette made some great connections with customers in Biltmore Lake, and, as a result, she began delivering meats and vegetables to individuals in that community. Now, she is the farmer for a budding network of residents there, and hopefully that base will continue to grow this season.
Jeanette and Frank remind me what it is about the local food movement that’s so special: the farmers. They are able to adapt and persevere through all the ups and downs that growing food brings. It’s emotional and exhausting, but sometimes they come out on top, especially when their quality is unwavering and they are transparent with their customers.
I can’t wait to talk with more farmers and share their stories with you; stay tuned to this column. To learn more about Jeanette and Frank Wilson, visit Hominy Valley Farm’s website (http://www.hominyvalleyfarms.com/), and find them in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.(http://buyappalachian.org/listing/hominy-valley-farms-land-and-cattle).
Bridget Kennedy is ASAP’s farm outreach coordinator. She can be reached at bridget@asapconnections.org or 828-236-1282 ext. 111. To learn more about ASAP, visit www.asapconnections.org.
About Bridget Kennedy
Bridget Kennedy is ASAP’s farm outreach coordinator. Her focus lies in helping farmers make market connections to buyers, implementing the Appalachian Grown program throughout the region, and managing the marketing cost share program. Before she arrived at ASAP, she worked for a wholesale produce distributor in the area focused on the restaurant sector and operated a small vegetable production business. Bridget can be reached at bridget@asapconnections.org.
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