Growing Local

Meet Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd Kirmss of Holt Orchards in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The brother and sister team devoted their lives to saving the family farm after they faced unexpected heartache. Hear how Todd and Tracy transformed the business and kept their family’s legacy alive.

The Creasman family has grown apples for three generations, and now sells rare varieties that can’t be found on grocery store shelves.

Why do they grow so many different kinds of apples? They stopped shipping the standard varieties to processors in Pennsylvania and started selling directly to their own community in North Carolina. It took 15 years and a big investment to find varieties the public would buy.

Now Creasman Farms sells at seven farmers market each week during apple season. We caught up with Dawn Creasman at the River Arts District market in Asheville, North Carolina to find out why it’s worth the extra effort.

Find Creasman Farms and other local apple growers at www.appalachiangrown.org

Fall favorites like pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and trips to the apple orchard are made possible by farmers who work hard all year. Check out these ideas for fall excursions in the Southern Appalachians.

Justus Orchard, Hendersonville: www.justusorchard.com

Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview: www.hickorynutgapfarm.com

Altapass Orchard, Spruce Pine: www.altapassorchard.org

The early days of autumn bring chilly mornings and fresh produce at farmers markets. Tomatoes and okra will be making their exit soon, and winter squash and greens are already taking center stage. Explore these flavors and more as late summer transitions into fall.

Find market schedules and discover what's fresh each week: www.fromhere.org

School is back in session and students are learning new lessons. So are their teachers at ASAP's Southeast Farm to School conference on Sept. 23-24 in Greenville, S.C.

Conference info and free farm to school lesson plans and activities are available at www.growing-minds.org

When Macon York Costlow and Luke Costlow joined a CSA for the first time this year, they quickly realized that Community Supported Agriculture would change the way they eat.

From cooking 100% local meals to discovering fermentation, Luke and Macon have made local food a joyful part of their daily lives.

Hear them pick up their CSA box from the farmers market and find out why joining Gaining Ground Farm’s CSA has inspired them to create countless summer meals.

Meet Debra and Nelson Copp. They make local food a big part of their lives by shopping at farmers markets, helping out at Farm Tour, and volunteering at ASAP events.

We caught up with them at ASAP’s Local Food Experience to talk about why they love the local food community.

Eva Duckett saw the transformation of her childhood home this summer. She visited her family's old farmland during ASAP's Farm Tour at what is now Full Sun Farm. It was an “emotional experience” that brought back memories and inspired her to reflect on the revitalization of her mountain home.

Meet local farmers, chefs, and food producers and taste the region's bounty at ASAP's Local Food Experience. Join us August 18 at Highland Brewing Company Event Center. $20. www.asapconnections.org

We'll be recording interviews with the community at the event. Tell us why you eat local for a chance to be on a future episode!

Organic farmers have to decide if certification is right for them, and so do people who eat local food. Kendall Huntley of Whisperholler Farms talks about growing organically without certification.

He also has some advice for customers who are interested in organically grown food. He points out that when people buy directly from farmers they can have a conversation about how the food was grown. These relationships can reduce a farmer’s need for formal certification.