Sam Silver
Potato Grading & Washing Line – Grant Award: $6,000
Sam grew 25 acres of tobacco until 2006, the 63rd year the crop has grown on the farm. He currently farms Christmas trees, cabbage and 17 acres of Yukon Gold and Kennabec varieties of potatoes.
With the award, he plans to buy a potato washing and grading line to improve the potato’s appearance and sort for size, which will increase marketability to restaurants, grocers and local school systems.
He currently markets his potatoes to the Food City chain, the WNC Farmers Market in Asheville and Mountain Foods. This year, he is also selling potatoes to the NCDA&CS Farm to School and Ingles Markets.