Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Maxine Hodges, Blossom Ridge Orchard Apple, Berry, and Flower Irrigation System Grant Award: $8,000 Maxine, her son and daughter-in-law will add blackberries, raspberries, and a high-density apple orchard to diversify their current beef cattle operation. In the spring of 2023 … View >>
Jon Klimstra, TK Family Farm Apple Cold Storage Facility Grant Award: $8,00 Jon used his first AgOptions grant in 2016 to establish a high-density apple orchard and was able to harvest 541 bushels of apples by his third season. In … 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 >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary Apple Sorting and Packing Project: Upgrading Farm Efficiency Grant Award: $6,000 Having already purchased a used apple sorter from a neighboring county’s N.C. Cooperative Extension Center, KT will be converting an existing barn into an … 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 >>
Sébastien Brun, Brulé Farms LLC Tuber Melanosporum or Black Winter Perigord Truffle Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Leveraging knowledge gleaned from multiple truffle-growing workshops in France, Western North Carolina and both online and in person with the National Truffle Growers Association, … View >>
KT, KT’s Orchard and Apiary KT’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar Grant Award: $6,000 One of the unfortunate aspects of producing commercial fruit for sale is amount of loss experienced from fruit that cannot be sold – size, shape, imperfections, etc. … View >>
Adolph, Matthew and Lucas Atkins, Atkins Orchard Heirloom Cider Apple Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 To fill a niche in the local apple cider market, the Atkins have added a high density heirloom cider apple orchard. Currently, the demand for cider … 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 >>
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 >>
Jon D. Klimstra, TK Family Farm Apple Packing/Sorting Line Grant Award: $6,000 Building on a 2016 AgOptions grant to establish a unique 1.3-acre high density apple orchard, Jon has added a packing/sorting line to accommodate the 800-1000 bushels of apples … View >>
Stephanie Poetter, Locally Good Farm Vinegar Production Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 To increase production to meet demand of locally produced apple-cider vinegar, Locally Good Farm expanded their vinegar production facility and started a ¼ acre orchard. Until they received the … 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 >>
Dwight Clifton Henry, Henry’s Farm Smoky Mountain Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Dwight added an acre of apple and pear trees to his 37-acre farm, in which he raises cattle, hogs and vegetables. He expects to generate income after the fourth … View >>
Jon D. Klimstra, TK Family Farm High-Density Trellised Apple Orchard Grant Award: $6,000 Jon has diversified his 15-acre farm with a high density trellised apple orchard. This orchard style allows for higher yields in a shorter amount of time than … View >>
Starli McDowell, Altapass Orchard Serving the Good Stuff Lunch Wagon Grant Award: $6,000 Altapass Orchard, a 280-acre historic farm on the Blue Ridge Parkway that provides apple sales, tours, trails and events to the public, has built a food service … View >>