About High Country Grown

New River Organic Growers (NROG): is a nonprofit cooperative of farmers located in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. Our goal is to provide fresh produce and humanely raised meats to consumers in North Carolina, to help preserve farmland by improving the success of our own farms through the pooling of resources for marketing and transport, bulk purchasing of farming supplies, sharing and coordination of information, and to educate the general public about the benefits of sustainable, local farming and consumption.

NC Cooperative Extension Watauga and Ashe Centers provide residents easy access to resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University on a wide array of topics.

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is dedicated to strengthening the High Country's local food system by supporting women and their families with resources, education, and skills related to sustainable food and agriculture.

High Country CSA (HCCSA) is a multi-farm CSA, which reduces the risk of crop failure for the consumer, as any member farm can provide if one comes up short. This model also increases the variety of food available: each season HCCSA members typically receive varieties of over 50 different vegetables in their share.

 

High Country Grown is a marketing initiative to mature the High Country’s local food system. This initiative was made possible by a NCDA grant received early in 2011 by project partners: Watauga and Ashe Cooperative Extension, New River Organic Growers, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, and High Country CSA.

The High Country has a strong agriculture base. Farmers are transitioning from tobacco to other crops including fruit and vegetables. Creating more demand by educating consumers about High Country-grown produce will increase the economic stability and sustainability of these farming operations. We have several farmers markets in the area, and interest is high for expanding opportunities for community supported agricultural programs through area worksites and targeted local marketing strategies. This project will hopefully attract new growers and allow existing growers to expand their technical proficiency in production.

Through targeted marketing strategies this project will attract new growers and allow existing growers to expand their technical proficiency in production.

The Impact of High Country Grown

  • High Country CSA, a project partner, revised their website in part due to funding and sold 59 full shares for the 2011 summer season. Also, with the help of a project partner, another grower was able to increase their CSA shares by 70 this year and market their CSA to employees of the local hospital.
  • Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) held a successful High Country Farm Tour in August with 19 participating farms and 526 visitors. More Information Here
  • The theme for the 2011 Farm City Banquet was "High Country Grown". There were 200 participants that each received a bumper sticker and a rack card promoting this marketing project. High Country Grown was also promoted at Cove Creek Farm Heritage Days, All About Women exhibition, Sustainability Symposium at Appalachian State University, at the farmer’s market and at a Farm to Table dinner. More Information Here
  • Specialty crops workshops were held for area farmers for broccoli/brassicas and season extension. More Information Here
  • BRWIA held 10 local food cooking demonstrations at the Farmer’s Market from June through September using local produce and sharing the recipes and samples with the public.
  • Hoop houses/high tunnel bedders were purchased and are to be used for farm demonstration and for shared use among growers.
  • A project partner worked with the local high school to promote eating local. Classes harvested apples with a local grower; the marketing/tourism students developed a t-shirt/logo and handed out 15 bushels of apples to students, culinary students prepared local apple dishes for a healthy recipe competition. An estimated 400 students received information on why it is important to buy local food. More Information Here
  • Cooperative Extension, New River Organic Growers, BRWIA, High Country CSA, High Country Local First and Vidalia restaurant teamed up to host the September Boone Area Chamber "After Hours" event to increase awareness of local foods. More Information Here
  • NROG worked to get High Country Grown food into the Fire on the Rock Chefs Challenge where the chefs worked with secret local ingredients for “Battle Sunchokes and Radishes”. More Information Here