Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Nicole Coston, Bearwallow Valley Farms Wholesale and Process Improvement Plan Grant Award: $8,000 After four years of production, Nicole has identified needs for new multi-use equipment that will improve efficiency and production, as well as harvest and post-harvest handling processes. … View >>
Paul Shoemaker, Holly Springs Farm Vegetable Season Extension Project Grant Award: $8,000 To alleviate the constraints of late spring and early fall frosts, Paul plans to purchase and install two high tunnels with end walls. The tunnels will extend the … View >>
Tyler Hunsader, Jeter Mountain Farm Canner for Hard/Carbonated Cider Grant Award: $8,000 After opening to the public in 2020, Jeter Mountain Farm saw unexpectedly high sales of their hard cider, which was produced using their apples. In 2022, in order … View >>
Stacy Fields, Raspberry Fields Raspberry Fields Kitchen Grant Award: $8,000 Raspberry Fields’ original plan was to build a small structure on the farm to house the farm kitchen. During the planning phase, Stacy discovered her proposed location was in a … View >>
Gary and Abigail Steiner, Bee-utiful Farm and Garden Greenhouse Upgrade and Expansion Grant Award: $8,000 With the ultimate goal of moving to full-time farming, the Steiners have upgraded an existing 5-year-old greenhouse with more plant growing space in order to … View >>
Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd Kirmss, Holt Orchards Bakery and Apple Cider Donut Maker Grant Award: $6,000 Tracy and Todd have built a bakery equipped with a new doughnut maker to create fresh apple-cider doughnuts from the 60 acres of apples … View >>
Adam Pressley, Pressley Farms Strawberry Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 The Pressley family started growing strawberries in 2015 with 500 plugs, ramping up their crop to about 3,500 plants on 0.17 acres by 2019. For the 2021-2022 season, they have … View >>
Stacy Fields, Raspberry Fields Agritourism Improvements to the Farm Grant Award: $6,000 After building materials costs rose steeply in early 2021, Stacy determined she would not be able to complete her proposed project, which was installing a commercial kitchen in … View >>
Dalton Rhodes, Rhodes Berry Farm Make Blackberries Local Again Grant Award: $6,000 Currently, Rhodes Berry Farm sells their entire product to a national broker who markets in the midwest and northeast of the US. Research has shown that the farm … View >>
Tyler Hunsader, Jeter Mountain Farm Juice (Cider) Operations Grant Award: $6,000 Jeter Mountain Farm has diversified their farm with the opening of a new 30 acre U-pick apple operation in 2020. From research done the past three years at multiple … View >>
Randy and Carolyn Edmundson, Edmundson Produce Farm Value-added Acidified Food Kitchen Grant Award: $6,000 Based on years of feedback from customers wanting to enjoy the Edmundson’s produce year round, Edmundson Produce Farm has added a permanent value-added acidified food kitchen … View >>
Gary and Abigail Steiner, Bee-utiful Farm and Garden Honey House Grant Award: $6,000 The Steiners are building a 28′ x 32′ structure on their property to serve as a honey house. The new honey house will provide a space for … View >>
Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd Kirmss, Holt Orchards Enclosure for Apple-Packing Line Grant Award: $6,000 In response to the recent rapid growth of their business, 60-acre Holt Orchards has added a packing line to their apple operation. A 2017 AgOptions grant … View >>
Danny McConnell, McConnell Farms Custom Labeling Project Grant Award: $6,000 In addition to selling fresh fruits and vegetables, McConnell Farms, an established diversified family farm, offers a wide range of value-added products including ice creams, jams, preserves, fruit butters, acetified … View >>
Dakota Youngblood, His Harvest Farms Irrigation System Grant Award: $4,000 Dakota has added an irrigation system for his current vegetable production and future and future blackberry plantings. He purchased and installed a pump, stainless steel sand filters, piping and drip … View >>
Tracy Cavagnaro and Todd Kirmss, Holt Orchards Retail Cooling Shed Grant Award: $6,000 Tracy and Todd, a brother/sister team, improved their apple orchard with the addition of a stand-alone cooling shed for bushels. The shed extends the availability of their … View >>