Piedmont Local Food is a Reality!

Below is the first invoice for delivery by Piedmond Local Food. This has all taken place in a revarkably short period of time with a great deal of cooperation between individuals and units of local governments. I think this is the first of many orders and am hopeful that this can become an important income stream for our local farmers. It is a win-win situation. The farmers make more money and our local restaurants and citizens get better, more nutirtious foods at a good price. I love it!

Order# 101 Payment Status: Pending
Delivery on 04/01/2010
________________________________________







Products Ordered

Item Name Price Unit Quantity Total
Degas (Gouda-like hard goat cheese)
SleepyGoat Farm $15.00 Each 2 $30.00
Microgreens-Broccoli
Seed Sowers $10.00 Container 1 $10.00
Jerusalem Artichokes / Sunchokes
Seed Sowers $9.00 Bag 5 $45.00
Pea Shoots
Faucette Farms $8.00 Container 2 $16.00
Sun-Dried Tomato (1 oz. bag)
Running Pine Herb Farm $3.00 Bag 2 $6.00
spring onions
Seed Sowers $2.00 Container 4 $8.00
Sub Total $115.00
Delivery Fee $20.00
Total $135.00


Customer Notes

None






Farmers Fresh Market in Rockingham County


The Farmers Fresh Market program has expanded into Rockingham County - a rural community about 3 hours north east of Rutherford County, on the border ofa the North Carolina and Virginia state line. The Rockingham County Business & Technology Center (a sister organization of Foothills Connect, and one of 7 BTC's in the state), the Rockingham Cooperative Extension and Piedmont Local Food have been working together for over a year to organize local farmers into a Local Food Coalition and adopt the Farmers Fresh Market model.


About 50 farmers in Rockingham, Stokes, Caswell and Guilford counties joined the coalition, and the online market made its very first sale last week to the Marisol restaurant in Greensboro. Brenda Sutton, Director of the county office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension, said the coalition expects the market to generate $60,000 in revenue this year and become self-sustaining by the third year.

The Rockingham County web site, www.piedmontlocalfood.com, already has a mouth-watering display of farm fresh items available for purchase by restuarants in Rockingham, Stokes, Guilford, Caswell, Forsyth, and Surry Counties. Gourmet cheeses, free range eggs, microgreens, fresh herbs, sweet potatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes are some of the tasty items up for sale.

Congratulations to Rockingham County for their hard work and dedication to building their own Farmers Fresh Market system. Please spread the word about this new, convenient way to buy fresh, local food in the Greensboro and Winston-Salem areas!

Local Opportunities for the Farming Community

Below are two important meetings. First the next Local Foods Meeting:

“If each North Carolinian spent 25 cents/day on local food (just 2.5 percent of the $3600.00 that we spend on average on food consumption per year), it would mean $792 million for the state’s economy”—
THINK WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR PIEDMONT FARM FAMILIES!


YOU are invited to the next meeting of the Rockingham County Local Foods Coalition.

Mission: To establish an organization for marketing and distribution of a locally-grown supply of fresh, quality products to preserve small family farms through environmentally friendly sustainable agriculture. Through these actions, this organization embraces seasonality, preserves diversity and, with good agricultural practices, supports local economics in Rockingham County and consumers throughout the region

Please join us on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ag Building (525 Hwy 65, Reidsville NC) for an exciting meeting including:

• Update on regional food distribution project “Piedmont Local Food”

• Membership Opportunity

• 2010 Event Planning workgroup formation

• Announcements and Networking Opportunities

Beverages and paper products will be provided. You may bring food to share!
You are also invited to bring products or information to exhibit and share or sell!!!

RSVP and contact with any questions or agenda items:
Brenda Sutton, County Extension Director brenda_sutton@ncsu.edu 342-8230
or
Sam Thompson, President llamalea@earthlink.net

And for Agri-Tourism:

NC Agritourism Networking Association
2010 ANA Spring Workshop – Thursday, April 22


FLINT HILL VINEYARDS & CENTURY KITCHEN
2153 Flint Hill Road East Bend 27018
www.flinthillvineyards.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Tour the vineyard and Century Farm grounds - 3:30 – 4 p.m.
Program Cost: $25.00 per person includes dinner and resource materials.
Pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, April 13

Program Highlights
Hear successful agritourism farmers and vineyard owners tell their stories.
Learn easy ways to make that good first impression, discuss local marketing ideas and other challenges for agritourism farmers.
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with agritourism
farmers and winery/vineyard owners. Meet and make new friends!

Directions: From Winston-Salem – Take US 421 west to Exit 244; right at top of ramp; left on Shallowford Rd.; right on Conrad Rd.; left on Old 421 (Yadkinville Hwy.); right on Flint Hill Rd.; Flint Hill Vineyard 2.5 miles on left.
Alternate directions from W-S: Take NC 67 West to Flint Hill Road, bear left; Flint Hill Vineyard is 4 mi. on right.
From Elkin: Take US 421 east to Baltimore Rd. exit; take left at top of ramp; go to stop sign, take right onto Old 421 (Yadkinville Hwy.); turn left on Flint Hill Rd.; Flint Hill Vineyard 2.4 mi. on left.
Pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, April 13

Mail Registration Form with check for $25.00 / person -- payable to ‘NC ANA’ to:
Martha Glass, Agritourism Office, 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1020
Registrations at the workshop may not guarantee resource materials. Please register early!

Looking for ways to add value to farm life

2010 Agritourism Networking Association workshops planned
RALEIGH -- A series of six upcoming Agritourism Networking Association workshops across the state will focus on how to start or continue a successful agritourism operation. The workshops are designed for current agritourism entrepreneurs and those who may be interested in starting an agritourism business.

“People want to have a better understanding and a closer connection to the source of their food,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Agritourism ventures help people connect to educational, unique and entertaining farming experiences, and we continue to see a growing interest in these types of farms.”

The workshops will focus on topics such as liability insurance, zoning, risk management, marketing and hospitality tips to bring in and keep customers, and working with elected officials. Participants will also have an opportunity to network and share ideas with other agribusiness owners.

All workshops start at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $20 to $25 and includes workshop materials and dinner.

Following are dates for the workshops:

March 25 -- Gillis Hill Farm in Fayetteville (Cumberland County)
April 8 -- Maple View Farm and Agricultural Center in Hillsborough (Orange)
April 15 -- Flint Hill Vineyards in East Bend (Yadkin)
April 22 -- Giardini Trattoria & Gardens in Columbus (Polk)
April 29 -- Banner Elk Winery in Banner Elk (Avery)
May 6 -- Mike’s Farm in Richlands (Onslow)
For more information, contact Martha Glass, manager of the Agritourism Office at (919) 733-7887, ext. 276 or e-mail at Martha.Glass@ncagr.gov.

-aea-1,2






NCDA&CS Public Affairs Division, Brian Long, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: (919) 733-4216; FAX: (919) 733-5047