The Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program assesses the needs of food relief organizations and then contracts with a farm or farms to supply the food. The contract covers the farmer’s costs and can be customized to fit different sizes and types of farms as well as relief efforts. 

“Our communities are facing unprecedented challenges right now, with many families struggling to access fresh foods,” said ASAP Executive Director Charlie Jackson. “Farms are entering the time of year where production is high, but many have lost market outlets with closures or reduction of service in restaurants, schools and other institutions. This is a neighbor-helping-neighbor effort that can benefit everyone in the community.”

Through this new initiative, ASAP is facilitating direct connections between farms and relief efforts that might not otherwise be logistically feasible and helping to offset costs. The first phase of the project will focus on rural communities that are farther away from centralized food resources, and the intent of the project is to reach every county in Western North Carolina.

Farms and relief agencies that would like to participate should start by filling out interest forms on www.asapconnections.org, and donations can be made there as well. Support for the Appalachian Farms Feeding Families comes from the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund.