monthly news from ASAP    |   SEPTEMBER 2020    |    asapconnections.org

Crunch with Us!
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The North Carolina Crunch : [link removed] celebrates National Farm to School Month in October, but you don't have to be a student or educator to participate! Anyone can join in by crunching into a locally grown apple at noon on Wednesday, October 21 (or another day during the month of October). Make sure to register : [link removed] your event to get tips on translating Crunch for COVID times, like virtual Crunching or take-home Crunch kits. And be sure to post pictures on social media with the hashtags #NCCrunch and #F2SMonth!



Plan an Appalachian Staycation This Fall!

Opportunities to visit farms still exist, even during COVID-19. More than 100 farms in the region are still open for a variety of unique and authentic experiences, including u-pick orchards, on-farm lodging, small group tours, vineyard picnics, and more. ASAP has created a round-up of seasonal farm experiences. Watch our social media as we highlight different activities. Even if you’re staying close to home, you can take advantage of these ways to safely enjoy and support Appalachian Grown farms.
 

First on the list: Go apple picking! Many local orchards are welcoming visitors now to pick apples and enjoy outdoor activities while social distancing. Hear how Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard has adapted this year in this Growing Local Radio : [link removed] episode. U-pick apples are generally available until the middle of October.



We ❤️ Restaurant Workers

From the chefs creating seasonal menus to the prep and line cooks bringing out the best in those local products to the servers telling the story of local food and farms to their customers (and everyone else who makes a restaurant run), restaurant workers are a vital part of our local food system. To show our appreciation, this month we're offering restaurant workers a chance to win $50 in farmers market gift certificates.
 

All you have to do is go to a participating Buncombe County market before the end of September and stop by the market information table to say hi. One winner will be drawn at each market. Entry is open to current employees and those who are out of work right now.
 

Participating markets:
 

ASAP Farmers Market : [link removed] - Saturdays, 9-12
North Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed] - Saturdays, 8-12
West Asheville Tailgate Market : [link removed] - Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30
Weaverville Tailgate Market : [link removed] - Wednesdays, 2:30-6
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market : [link removed] - Thursdays, 3:30-6:30



Thank You for Voting for ASAP!
We're honored to have once again been named the top nonprofit supporting farms/farmland preservation in Western North Carolina by the readers of the Mountain Xpress : [link removed]. Congratulations to the farms, farmers markets, and local food businesses supporting them that also made the list!



Connect with Farm to Preschool Across North Carolina
Are you one of the growing number of people across North Carolina working to expand access to fresh, local food and farms for children, teachers, and families in preschool settings? Would you like to network with other preschool or early care and education programs and leaders across the state? ASAP helps to facilitate the NC Farm to Preschool Network : [link removed]. Connect with us via our Facebook page : [link removed] and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter : [link removed] for fresh ideas for gardening, children’s literature connections, recent articles and research, links to webinars, and funding opportunities.



Join Our Team
ASAP is hiring! Join us in helping local farms thrive, linking farmers to markets and supporters, and building healthy communities through connections to local food. Find more details on our website : [link removed]. 
 

Development Director is responsible for managing and implementing all aspects of ASAP’s fund development activities including donor development and maintenance, grant writing coordination, general fundraising, sponsorships, and fundraising events. This is a permanent, full-time position. 
 

Videography Intern will work with ASAP’s Events Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, and Growing Minds team to support the Meet Your Farmer : [link removed] series and additional video projects. The intern will be responsible for pre-production coordination, sound, lighting, camera, post-production, and editing. Intern is expected to provide their own videography and editing equipment.This is a great opportunity for someone looking to build their professional portfolio. We offer a modest monthly stipend and mileage reimbursement.



FACES OF LOCAL
Jake Beaver
: [link removed] likes to share the stories of people who are contributing to the local food system. As part of our Restaurant Worker Appreciation Month : [link removed] at Buncombe County farmers markets, we're talking to Jake Beaver, who has worked as a line cook at several Asheville restaurants, including Nightbell and Cultura. He'll be working for Table Right Here : [link removed] when it reopens on North Lexington Ave. this fall. He's pictured, left, during a farm dinner at Ivy Creek Family Farm : [link removed]. 

Why is shopping at farmers markets important to you?


It's important to support our local farmers as well as create a dialogue and a relationship with the people who grow our food. It's so easy to forget where our food comes from. I like to put a face and a name to the products that I buy.
What fall farmers market products are you most excited about (or most looking forward to) right now? What do you like to do with them?I'm looking forward to preserving the last of the summer produce before it's all gone. Lee's One Fortune Farm : [link removed] has a lot of cool things right now. Their rice yields the best results for growing koji [mold used in a type of Japanese fermentation]. It seriously smells like juicy fruit. Really looking forward to their sweet potatoes when they are ready. How does a connection with farmers markets and local food inform your professional kitchen work?

Having a connection with farmers and the markets is so important to the planning of our menus in a restaurant. We have to constantly be aware of what is coming in and out of season so that we are utilizing products at their peak and being sure to preserve things going out of season so that they can be used throughout the year.How are you surviving in COVID-19 times? Are there things you want the dining community to know about supporting and visiting restaurants right now? 
I've been luckier than most in that I've stayed employed full time throughout the pandemic. That isn't to say that it hasn't had its challenges. I want people to know that we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone that is still choosing to eat out during these times. The restaurant industry has been hit harder than most during this pandemic. With the winter months slowly creeping up on us, we are going to be relying on locals more than ever to help keep us afloat. I would encourage everyone to support local restaurants in whatever way they feel comfortable—whether that be through gift cards, take out, or dining in.

PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT
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Our September photo of the month comes from Claudia Laffin, a.k.a. The Traveling Spoon chef : [link removed], a personal chef, recipe developer, and food photographer based in Hendersonville. Figs are at farmers markets and farm stands now—find one near you at appalachiangrown.org : [link removed]. ⁣

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

 Kale and Apple Salad

Already visited an orchard this fall? You're going to need some new recipes for all those apples! Try this healthy salad, which also incorporates fall kale coming back in at farmers markets now.

Serves 8

Ingredients:
2 bunches of kale2 crisp apples, diced3/4 cup white cheddar cheese, grated 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar1 lemon, juiced1/2 cup olive oilsaltpepperred chili flakes
Directions:
Wash and dry kale. Lay several leaves together. Roll them into a tube and thinly slice with a sharp knife to create ribbons. Repeat with all kale. Place in a large bowlWhisk together cider vinegar, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and red chili flakes. Pour dressing over the kale and massage in well with your hands. Keep massaging for a few minutes until kale has softened a bit. Add diced apples and cheese and toss to coat everything in dressing. Divide on plates and enjoy!

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

ASAP in the News
ASAP's Double SNAP expansion as well as the release of the Local Food Guide were featured in the Mountain Xpress : [link removed].
 

ASAP board member and Buncombe County Schools Nutrition Director Lisa Payne received an award from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for her farm to school work. She cited ASAP's support for making her work possible. Watch her on WLOS : [link removed]. 

 

Capital at Play : [link removed] took at look at how MANNA FoodBank works with farms and other organizations, including ASAP, to source local food. 
 

Several articles, including in the Morganton Times Herald : [link removed], Blue Ridge Now : [link removed], and Avery Journal : [link removed], on the new WNC AgOptions grants mention ASAP as a member of the steering committee.



ASAP on the Air
: [link removed]’s Growing Local audio series runs on WNCW : [link removed] on Monday mornings during Morning Edition at 8:45 a.m. Here are a few recent episodes: 
 

Farmworkers Adapt to COVID : [link removed]
Grassroots Farm and Dairy Produces Milk and More : [link removed]
Health First at Apple Orchards This Fall : [link removed]
“Meet Your Farmer” Videos Connect Kids with Farms During COVID : [link removed]
Farmers Markets Expand Double SNAP : [link removed] can listen to all Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud : [link removed], iTunes : [link removed], or on ASAP's website : [link removed].



CONNECT WITH US
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asapconnections.org : [link removed] | growing-minds.org : [link removed]
appalachiangrown.org : [link removed] | fromhere.org : [link removed]
 
Donate to support local food, strong farms, and healthy communities today! : [link removed]
 
ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.



ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) - 306 W. Haywood Street - Asheville - NC - 28801

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