Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Susan Epps Ward, Brothers on Farms Commercial Equipment/Freeze Dry Equipment Grant Award: $6,000 After COVID-19 negatively impacted her agritourism revenue and sales of shiitake mushrooms, lamb and other products to restaurants, Susan decided to expand her product line to include … View >>
Julia Austin, McNeilly Enterprises Enhancing Capacity with Multi-purpose Facility Grant Award: $6,000 The owners of McNeilly Enterprises are constructing a 20-foot by 25-foot multipurpose building. They have purchased a commercial honey extractor and other equipment and supplies to facilitate processing … 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 >>
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 >>
Tiffany Hudgins, Johnson Family Farm Preparing for Future Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 With the goal of turning her family’s four-year-old part-time farming and value-added foods operation into a full-time business, Tiffany is increasing marketing efforts and expanding vegetable production and … 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 >>
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 >>
Michelle Mejia, Moral Bees The Local Honey Bee Project Grant Award: $6,000 Michelle’s grant let her expand queen production, honey, bee products and bee colonies to consumers and other beekeepers. Michelle has developed an innovative system to overwinter locally bred … 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 >>
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 >>
Carl Evans and Julie Mansfield, Mountain Harvest Organics Pizza Farm Agritoursim Grant Award: $6,000 Carl and Julie are in the process of transitioning their current successful farming operation from being focused on crop production to producing value-added products and services. … View >>
John Pearson, Pink Boot Farms Goat Barn Renovation/Milking Operation Grant Award: $6,000 John and Lynn Pearson’s farm project is to add goat milk, butter, and aged goat cheese production to the farm. To accomplish this goal, they renovated a 150 … View >>
Pamela C. Zimmerman, Zimmerman’s Berry Farm Wood Fired, Value Added Processing Grant Award: $6,000 Pamela has eliminated most of the electricity costs associated with making homemade preserves with the installation of a wood cook stove. She makes jam out of … View >>
Jessica Wehr, Wehrloom Honey Mead Expansion Grant Award: $6,000 Jessica and Aron have added a meadery to the Wehrloom Honey Retail Store and Educational Center in Robbinsville. While making wine out of honey is unique in itself, they also have … View >>