WNC Farmers: You might not want to start growing for Amy's Kitchen just yet

I cannot explain why we just learned about this today, but I thank the farmer who sent an email to my employee Emily today who passed the information on to me.  That is that the organic food processor, Amy's Kitchen, has indefinitely delayed the opening of their Greenville, SC plant.  I know there was great deal of excitement about this, so this news is a disappointment to some in our farming community.  But the buyer is still interested in talking to growers; maybe even doing so test growing.  I'll let you know when I know more.

Here is a link to an article about it.  The same information is in the news section on the company's website.
delay in opening new plant

Sierra Nevada Brewing Coming to western NC!

It looks like Gov. Perdue will make the official announcement today that Sierra Nevada has chosen Mills River, NC as the location for their East Coast brewery.  If the announcement happens (it is still all unofficial, although the media is full of news about it), we will be honored to have them join our community.  They would be next-door-neighbors to the research station where I am located and where we have the NC State University western NC research hop yard.  If they are indeed moving here, I hope that they will be interested in working with us on growing high quality hops in North Carolina and purchasing fresh hops from the dozens of growers already established in the state.

Emily and Kelly harvesting first year hops from the research hop yard in Mills River

We Have Been Awarded a New Grant for Organic Broccoli Study!

This is Emily in our 2010 organic broccoli study in Waynesville

I am just beside myself with excitement!  My program has been awarded a new grant by the Organic Farming Research Foundation to conduct a project entitled "Participatory Screening of Broccoli Varieties for Organic Systems in Western North Carolina."  The two main objectives of this project will be 1)  to identify the best new and existing broccoli varieties adapted to the organic farms and markets in western North Carolina and 2) use participatory varietal selection to facilitate farmer involvement in choosing and evaluating the broccoli varieties.  Varieties will be trialed at the Mountain Organic Research and Extension Unit at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC.  We will be proceeding with our organic certification on that research land now.  We will be working closely with the New River Organic Growers up in the high country because of their extensive experience in growing organic broccoli. This study will dovetail with the broccoli research we are already doing at that station as part of the Eastern Broccoli Project.  I am especially excited about the timely of this project because Amy's Kitchen, who is starting a new plant in Greenville, SC, just announced that they want to buy lots of organic broccoli from this region!  Credit for this grant really goes to the research specialist in my program, Emily Bernstein.  She is the one who developed this idea and wrote the proposal.  Congratulations, Emily!

NC Craft Beverage Meeting: Hop Growing & Enzyme Use in Beverage Production

Commercial and aspiring brewers, winemakers, hop and grape growers, distillers, and anyone involved in fermented/craft beverage production are invited to the 2012 NC Craft Beverage Regional Exchange Group meeting series.

Join us January 12, 2012 at Catawba Valley Brewing Company, Morganton, NC for a combined presentation on hop production in North Carolina and enzyme use in commercial beverage fermentation. Speakers include NC State hop specialist Dr. Jeanine Davis, and David Maradyn, Staff Scientist in Brewing Solutions for enzyme professionals Novozymes.

Supported by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and organized by Appalachian State University, the mission of this Regional Exchange Group (REG) is to foster collaboration among members of the growing and dynamic fermentation/craft beverage industries of North Carolina. Meetings feature speakers focused on fermentation technologies and scientific practices for use throughout the production process. 

Take the following link to register: http://nccraftbevjan2012.eventbrite.com
or contact Franya Hutchins (hutchinsfe@appstate.edu, 828-262-8158)
There is no fee for this meeting.


Agenda January 12, 2012 at Catawba Valley Brewing Company, Morganton, NC

Hop Production Introduction and Discussion 9am-12pm:

Topics covered include: establishing a hop yard, variety selection, growing, harvesting, drying, packaging, enterprise budgets, marketing, organic options, and scaling production. Presentation led by Dr. Jeanine Davis of NC State University. 

Enzyme Use in Craft Beverage Production 1:30-4:30pm:

1:30 - 2:00 Greeting and Introduction to the Craft Beverage REG
2:00 - 2:30 Incentivizing Craft Beverage Businesses in your Community- Alan Clark, Burke County Tourism Development Authority
2:30 - 4:30 Enzyme Use in Beverage Production- David Maradyn, Novozymes; additional speakers, open discussion of industry experiences, and question / answers.

4:30 Craft Beverage Reception, Catawba Valley Brewing Company Tasting Room (light snacks provided)

Mark your calendars January 12, 2012 for this opportunity connect with other industries/industry members, share experiences, concerns, and needs of these industries, and discuss some technical aspects of production that may benefit your business.

These meetings are intended to be casual and input from attendees is highly encouraged.

For more information see http://nccraftbevjan2012.eventbrite.com or contact Franya Hutchins, hutchinsfe@appstate.edu, 828-262-8158

Thanks to support from the Golden LEAF Foundation, the NC Biotechnology Center, and the Small Business Administration, the Appalachian State University Enology and Viticulture program will be holding 8 workshops in 2012 on science-based, practical production techniques for the craft beverage industries of North Carolina.

Topics to be covered include yeast management, enzyme use, NC grape harvest 2011, filtration, sensory evaluation, and lab techniques; meetings feature industry professionals as well as academic experts. Join us throughout 2012 for these exciting gatherings open to wine/grape, beer/hop, distillate, and other craft beverage producers!

See http://wine.appstate.edu/research/workshops for the schedule outline.

Hops in North Carolina and New York

My staff harvesting our hops in 2011 (first year planting!)

I just had to post links to a recent article about a North Carolina hops grower in Yadkin County and a video about hops growing in New York.  I am quite envious of the New York situation.  They now have a full-time hops extension specialist.  And check out the harvester!

December 2, 2011 article in the Winston-Salem Journal about Cedar Ridge Hops in Yadkin County, NC.

CNN Money video on New York hops industry.

Some of the hops we harvested in July

Federal Financial Assistance Available for Building High Tunnels & Becoming Certified Organic

Here are two opportunities that I wanted to be sure you all knew about.  Especially with Amy's Kitchen (big organic food processing company; see previous blog post) moving into Greenville, SC and looking to purchase lots of locally grown, certified organic produce, these two federal initatives might be of interest to you:
                                                                                                     

USDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR SEASONAL HIGH TUNNEL INITIATIVE

Raleigh, NC. (Nov. 21,2011) – Longer growing seasons, conserving natural resources and providing a greater supply  of locally grown food are all advantages for the farmers who participle in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.  The initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and funding availability is to be available soon for eligible applicants.

Farmers can submit applications for the initiative at anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin the application ranking process for the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit.  For an application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.

The initiative will provide opportunities for farmers to establish seasonal high tunnel systems for crops and for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources. Applicants who apply for the national EQIP initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the state administered Farm Bill conservation programs.

The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for farmers, who are beginning, have limited resources, or who are socially disadvantaged. Such farmers can receive up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing certain conservation practices and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.

Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov.  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Contact: Stuart Ashby Lee, Phone: 919.873.2107

*************************************

USDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR ORGANIC INITIATIVE

Raleigh, NC. (Nov. 22, 2011) – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking applications for a national initiative being offered in North Carolina. Administered under the 2008 Farm Bill’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the EQIP Organic Initiative helps certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production meet their conservation goals. Technical and financial assistance will help producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.

Funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative will be available soon. Now is the time for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic productions to work with their local USDA Service Center to establish eligibility and apply so that their applications can be considered when funds become available.

EQIP is primarily used to provide financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources.  An organic provision targets organic producers and producers transitioning to organic production:

• Assistance is for conservation practices related to organic production
• Assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 during a six year period
• Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP
• Producers must be pursing an organic certification or in compliance with their organic certification The initiative is available for farmers who are certified organic, transitioning to certified organic, or organic exempt according to USDA’s National Organic Program regulations. Farmers can submit applications for the initiative anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin ranking eligible EQIP Organic Initiative applications on February 3, 2012 for possible funding.  Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit.  For an application to be considered complete for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.  Applications that are not complete by the first ranking date will be deferred to the next ranking period, which is anticipated to occur on March 30 and June 1, 2012.

Under the EQIP Organic Initiative applicants can apply for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources including: experimenting with cover crops and crop rotations, installing intensive grazing infrastructure (grazing plans, internal fencing and water lines), establishing wildlife and pollinator friendly habitat, and installing seasonal high tunnels.  Applicants who apply for the national initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the general EQIP program.

Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov.  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.  Contact: Stuart Ashby Lee.  Phone:  919.873.2107.

Amy's Kitchen: Large Processor Wants to Buy from Local Producers

Amy's Kitchen Informational Meeting

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center 

455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759

Please join us Monday Nov. 28th from 9:00am - 11:00 am to meet with John Aselage, the Organic Purchasing Manager for Amy's Kitchen. Amy's Kitchen in the nation’s largest organic prepared food manufacturer and will be opening a facility in Greenville, SC. in the summer of 2012. They are very interested in sourcing local organic products to be used in the Greenville plant. John Aselage will discuss Amy's Kitchen's standards for production and processing and procedures for getting into their supply chain.  Here is a link to their website: http://www.amys.com/.

This event is for growers (organic, transitioning, or growers interested in organic), processors, researchers, crop consultants and those interested in organic food production in the region. Parking is available on site.

Please contact Karen McSwain if you have any questions.

828-423-2463

karen@carolinafarmstewards.org

DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 26, take Exit #40 (the Asheville Regional Airport exit). At the top of the exit ramp turn toward the airport onto NC Hwy 280. Just past the end of the airport runway, the highway curves to the right. Turn right at the first road after the runway onto Old Fanning Bridge Road. After ~1 mile, cross the French Broad river, and ~1/2 mile later the MHCR&EC office building is on the right at the top of the hill.  A map and further location details are available at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/directions2.html.

 Meeting is hosted by:

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

and

North Carolina Cooperative Extension