Seasonal Food - Regional Focus
Join ASAP in Celebrating First National Farm to School Month This October ~ The nation’s very first National Farm to School Month is underway. Proclaimed in November 2010, the declaration serves to demonstrate the growing role of Farm to School programming in improving child nutrition, supporting local economies, and connecting children with the source of their food. The Southern Appalachians are certainly celebrating. Through ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School Program, … [Read more...]
The North Carolina Apple Festival may have come and gone, but apple season is still very much here. In fact, September is the height of the local apple harvest, which is why the fall varieties—from Mutsus to Cameos and Jonagolds to Romes—get the spotlight this month in ASAP’s Get Local campaign. Perhaps nowhere are local apples more prevalent than eateries in Henderson County, North Carolina’s apple country. The county grows 65 percent of the state’s apple … [Read more...]
Whether you like them in sauce, salsa, or straight up, area restaurants aim to satisfy your tomato cravings by featuring fresh local ‘maters on their menus now. ASAP’s Get Local campaign turns the spotlight on one local product each month when at its peak in the harvest, and August is the time for tomatoes in WNC. In fact, just as the calendar left July, Asheville Get Local restaurants started sharing their local shipments and specials through social media. On August 3, Early … [Read more...]
PIC and I shopped at the Mills River Tailgate Market this morning. I would have liked to take hundreds of photos of the beautiful produce and sellers. Maybe another time. As soon as we got home, PIC cut up veggies and started them steaming. Then he made cheese sauce for drizzling. Such a great summer lunch! Can't see photos below? Click here. … [Read more...]
During the 2010-2011 school year, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s (ASAP) Growing Minds Farm to School Cooking Program reached nearly 1,400 area students with the help of educators, chefs, and community volunteers. Overwhelming interest and community participation in the organization’s recent Farm to School Cooking Conference indicates that ASAP’s program is poised to impact even more children when the school year begins. The event was held in late July on the … [Read more...]
There's a new project afoot in Western North Carolina aimed at supporting small farmers. Through "webisodes" at FarmersFilm.com, we learn what it means to be an American Farmer today. I've watched all the webisodes to date and have to admit, there were a couple things I hadn't considered. This series provides a great education for those of us not familiar with life on a farm. "Local food is something that people like to talk about. Many of us even think that we understand it. But the … [Read more...]
Beans are a big deal around these (WNC) parts. In fact, it’s thought that more heirloom beans (traditional cultivars like greasy beans) originated in WNC than anywhere else in the country. Today, more than a dozen varieties are grown here. To honor the history and current harvest, they get the star treatment on restaurant menus throughout July in Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Get Local campaign. Enjoy local green beans alongside kidneys and limas in a classic … [Read more...]
Academic farming sounds like an oxymoron, but understanding that's not necessarily the case is easy when talking to Walt Harrill. He, wife Wendy and son Andy work the family land known as Imladris Farm in Fairview, NC. During our conversation and tour of Imladris, Walt mentioned at least six books on animal husbandry and latest farming techniques I had never heard of, let alone read. He also talked about sustainable grazing practices and land use, often referring to … [Read more...]
This year's Family Farm Tour, put on by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), was bigger and better than ever. Eighteen new farm stops were added, bringing the total farms to 41, along with the Polk County Farm Tour (Agri-Tour) being included in the ticket price. Planning our route couldn't have been easier. We used this very cool trip planner/mapping system set up by ASAP. You can use it to find "Local Food and Farm Destinations" including tailgate … [Read more...]
Crooknecks, patty pans, zephyrs, and zucchinis: All varieties of summer squash are celebrated throughout June in ASAP’s Get Local campaign—a year-round initiative that brings together farmers, chefs, and community members in celebration of a featured local food. And, the veggies are ready for all cooking preparations. Executive Chef Camp Boswell of The Junction, one of Asheville’s newest restaurants, is looking forward to starting summer by firing up the grill and … [Read more...]
