Regional Growers' School - March 8th

Cooperative Extension, in partnership with Mayland Community College, will host a day-long growers school known as Blueprint for a Profitable Mountain Farm.  Area farmers, gardeners and homesteaders are cordially invited to join us for a day of educational sessions and networking. 

This year sessions will include information on local food systems development, broccoli and asparagus production, pests of fruits and vegetables and how to control them, parasite management for a variety of livestock, poultry carcass quality, and raising pigs on pasture.  Specialists from across the state will present throughout the day. 

The event will be hosted by Mayland Community College at the Spruce Pine Campus on Friday, March 8th, from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  There is a $10 registration fee, which will include a BBQ lunch and reference materials.  Registration forms are available online at:  http://mitchell.ces.ncsu.edu/.  Be sure to register by March 6th to guarantee yourself a meal. For questions please call either 688-4811 or 682-6186. 

Mills River Farm Market Looking for Vendors

The Mills River Farmers' Market is a great and friendly market.  I think that the new Ingles down the road will drive even more traffic to the market.

See message below from Mr. Jim Reed:

The Mills River Farmers' Market is looking for several growers of quality early, mid, and late season vegetables and/or fruit.   Affiliation/ experience with a regional tailgate market preferred but not required.

Our customers are looking for YOU!

The Mills River Farmers' Market is a grower only(no buying & re-selling) market located on Hwy 280, a 5 minute drive beyond the Asheville Regional Airport.  Hours are Saturdays, 8 AM 'til noon, May through October.

Please respond with name & contact info to: millsriverfarm@gmail.com

or contact Jim Reed (828-890-4105)

Beyond the Tailgate Market Workshop March 12

We will be holding a great workshop for growers who are thinking about scaling up beyond Tailgate markets to wholesale markets.  If you are considering this and have questions, please come to this great program.

What:  Beyond the Tailgate Market Workshop
When:  March 12, 2013  8 am - 4:30 pm
Where:  Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
How much: $20, includes lunch and resource notebook

Topics:

• Food Safety, GAPS, Audits & Certification
  
• Post Harvest Handling
  
• Grades & Standards for
  Retail Markets
  
• Pricing and Building
  Relationships as buyers
  
• Selling to Grocery Stores,
  Food Hubs, & Distributors
  
• What to expect ondelivery:
  Farmers Panel 
  
  
  To learn more or to register click here.  

Fumigation Training

Another opportunity for training and testing for the new fumigant labels.  This training will be held on March 28th from 9 am - 3 pm at the WNC Regional Livestock Market in Canton.  This training is a collaboration between the NCDA&CS and Cooperative Extension to provide live 'in person' training and testing to get growers in compliance with the new fumigation labels.  To learn more about this opportunity click here.


As a reminder, you can take this training on-line on the EPA Soil Fumigation Toolbox.

Winter Vegetable Conference Next Week!

The premier vegetable conference for western NC is happening next week in Asheville.  The 45th Annual Meeting of the NC Tomato Growers Association and Winter Vegetable Conference and Trade Show will take place Feb 20 and 21st at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville. 

This conference is the largest gathering of vegetable growers in the area and attracts growers not only from WNC, but also TN, GA, SC and VA.  The trade show includes over 55 vendors. The educational program is chosen by the growers and highlights the research done by vegetable specialists in NC and throughout the Southeast.  You can view the educational program here.

As a special treat, Dr. Paul Shoemaker will give a talk "On the History of the Tomato Production in WNC".  Dr. Shoemaker is a professor emeritus in Plant Pathology at NCSU and owner of Holly Springs Farm in Henderson County.  

In addition, we will be live-streaming the  FDA Listening Session on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in Raleigh.

Finally, following the luncheon on Thursday, TriEst will be offering a training on the new fumigation regulations and on-line training site.  To learn more about these changes or to take the on-line training, visit the EPA's Soil Fumigation Toobox.

Don't miss out on this great event!

Pre-registration is no longer available, but you can register at the door.  All are welcome.

Tree Seedling Sale: Buncombe County

The Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its annual tree seedling sale starting on February 28th-March 2nd at Jesse Israel and Sons Garden Center at the WNC Farmer's Market. The sale will begin on a Thursday and run through Saturday or until we are out of seedlings. 

Date & Times:
February 28th 12:00pm–5:00pm
March 1st 9:00am – 5:00 pm
March 2nd 9:00am – 4:00 pm or until out of stock
Seedlings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the days of the sale. You can call the office from February 4th-21st for preorders and to check availability at 828-250-4785.

Preorders must be picked up by 5:00pm on Friday March 1st at Jesse Israel and Sons. Advance orders not picked up by 5:00 on Friday will be released for sale. Advance orders must be paid in full into the BC SWCD office by February 22nd. Check or cash only. 

Eastern White Pine seedlings are .25 cents each and the hardwood species are .75 cents each. 

Henderson County is also doing there seedling sale.  Visit http://wncveggies.blogspot.com/2013/01/annual-tree-seedlings-sale.html  for more info.

Packaged Foods Manufacturing Short-Course Feb 11, Raleigh

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC Cooperative Extension and NC State University are excited to offer a short-course on Packaged Foods Manufacturing!

This fast-paced workshop is geared towards entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, farmers market vendors and those thinking about getting started in packaged foods but don't quite know where to begin. There are a myriad of rules and regulations to follow, including, completion of the Acidified Foods Processing and Packaging Better Process Control School. While this this short-course will not certify you to sell acidified foods, it will give you a better understanding of the process and how you can get started!

Packaged Foods Manufacturing Short-Course
Date: Monday, February 11
Time: 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Registration Fee: $20
Location: TBA, Raleigh, NC

Organizers: CEFS, Wake County Cooperative Extension, and NC State University

Featured Speakers: Dr. Fletcher Arritt, Food Safety and Processing Extension Specialist, NCSU,  Dr. Benjamin Chapman, Assistant Professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist, and Allison Smathers, NCSU, Entrepreneurial Food Program Assistant
Thinking about selling fermented, acidified (pickled), or other packaged foods at restaurants, farmers' markets or retail vendors? There are a myriad of stringent guidelines that must be followed in order to do so, including keeping certain records or perhaps acquiring a label, getting a process authority letter and taking the multiday Acidified Foods GMP School for Pickle Manufacturers course or others offered by NCSU. 
This workshop is designed to give participants a VERY general idea of what is expected by regulators to manufacture and sell packaged food products and about the Pickling School, briefly covering such topics as: basic food safety, supervisory skills, pH levels in your products, sample submission process, labeling, kitchen certification, record keeping and more. The purpose of this course is to provide you with a VERY BRIEF outline of the processes you will need to go through in order to sell your products.
THIS COURSE WILL NOT CERTIFY YOU TO SELL ACIDIFIED FOODS OR ANY OTHERS TO THE PUBLIC.

For more information or to register, please visit the CEFS website.
For more information contact Lisa Forehand at 919-513-0954 or lisa_forehand@ncsu.edu

Fumigant Label Changes: Learn about them on January 29

Soil Fumigant Phase 2 Labels have taken effect.  These new labels have some significant changes that will impact all growers who utilize soil fumigants.  To learn more about fumigants and implementation of the labels visit the EPA's Soil Fumigant Toolbox.

On Tuesday January 29th, the NC Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with Southern States and the NC Department of Agriculture will hold a meeting on the new fumigant labels.   This meeting will begin at 8:30 am and will be held at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office located at 94 Coxe Ave in Asheville.

Below you will find the agenda for this meeting.

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8:30 am – 9:00 am	Breakfast and Introduction
9:00 am – 10:00 am	What you need to know about the changes in Fumigant Labeling for 2013 Bruce Nicely – NC Pesticide Inspector Charlie Clark – NC Pesticide Inspector
10:00 am – 11:00 am	RUP Record Keeping and Storage Sue Colucci Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture
11:00 am – 11:30 am	Questions

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Listening Sessions

Share your voice. Share your vision: N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is developing a strategic plan to guide the College’s future, and we hope to hear from you. Alumni, donors, students, parents, faculty and staff members – indeed, all people with an interest in the College – are invited to attend listening sessions that are being held across the state. During these sessions, you’ll talk, and we’ll listen. Your participation will help us as we build an exciting and dynamic future for our College and for the people we serve.

 

Please make note of the dates below and register using the following link http://go.ncsu.edu/2013_cals_listening_sessions.

 

Date	Time	Location
Thursday, January 24	8:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Duplin County Extension Office 165 Agriculture Drive, Kenansville, NC 28349
Thursday, January 24	4:00 PM - 6:00 PM	The Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center 207 Research Station Road, Plymouth, NC
Wednesday, February 6	8:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Union County Extension 3230-D Presson Road, Monroe, NC
Thursday, February 7	4:00 PM - 6:00 PM	Iredell County Extension 444 Bristol Dr., Room 110, Statesville, NC
Friday, February 8	8:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Western North Carolina Agricultural Center 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, NC
Friday, February 8	4:00 PM - 6:00 PM	Madison County Extension 258 Carolina Lane, Marshall, NC 28753

 

We also encourage you to go to the CALS Strategic Planning Web Site (http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/strategicplan) to learn more about the process, monitor our progress in the coming months and to offer input.

 

Thanks for your past and future support of the College. We look forward to your involvement.

 

Rich Linton

Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference

My colleagues in Gaston County have put together a great conference called Putting Small Acreage to Work.

This conference will take place on Saturday January 26, 2013 at the Gaston County Cooperative Extension office in Dallas, NC.

Here is the press release.

Media Contact:

Lara Worden

704-922-2112

lara_worden@ncsu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

If you are looking for ways to make a living or supplement your income off of your land, we invite you to attend the Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference on January 26, 2013 at the Gaston County Citizens Resource Center in Dallas, NC from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The goal of this conference is to encourage the success and viability of small farm operations through educational workshops, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities.  You will be able to explore alternative enterprises by speaking with successful producers, university personnel, and experts in the field who are already growing, producing, and researching various crops, livestock and field techniques to enhance production. Conference tracks include sessions on aquaculture, fruit production, pastured pork, pasture management, beef cattle production, parasite management for small ruminants, growing specialty crops, direct marketing of meats, forages for free range birds, importance of cover crops, and QuickBooks for farmers.

Class sessions will start promptly after registration. The program will include three breakout sessions, plus a special session on parasite management for small ruminants. Three to four topics will be discussed concurrently during each of these breakout sessions.

Pre-registration forms and a fee of $35 per person and $20 for each additional person are due by Monday, January 23. Checks made payable to Gaston County Cooperative Extension. To register go to: http://smallacres.eventbrite.com or call Gaston Co. Cooperative Extension at 704-922-2112 for more information.

Prepping for Your GAPs Audit: Dec 4th

Are you thinking about getting your Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) certification?  This process can be overwhelming and intimidating, but we are here to help.  On Dec. 4th, Cooperative Extension in collaboration with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association will be holding a training on "Food Safety Audit Trainings for Diversified Farmers".

What:  "Food Safety Audit Trainings for Diversified Farmers"

When:  Tuesday, Dec. 4th from 1-5 pm

Where:  Mountain Horticultural Crop Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Dr.  Mills River, NC

How Much:  Free but you must pre-register!

Registration:  Call the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Office at 828-697-4891 or email me at sue_colucci@ncsu.edu

Tentative Agenda:

1:00 pm        Introductions

1:30 pm        USDA GAP & GHP Audit Preparation and Scheduling

2:15 pm        General Section

3:00 pm        15 Minute Break

3:15 pm        Part One – Farm Review

4:00 pm        Part Two – Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities

4:45 pm        Wrap Up & Questions

The RAFI-Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund & NC Specialty Crop 

Block Grant funded the development of this curriculum. 

For more information, contact Dr. Audrey Kreske, Food Safety Extension 

Assoc., at ackreske@ncsu.edu.

Learn more at http://gapsmallfarmsnc.wordpress.com.