Appalachian Mountain Commercial Small Fruit and Vegetable News

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1 Appalachian Mountain Commercial Small Fruit and Vegetable News Henderson County Center Winter 2015 Inside This Issue Dear Agriculture Producer: Editors Note U.S. Bee Buffer Project, p.2 Get the Guide, p.5 This editions is filled with lots of great educational opportunities, be sure to check them all out! First off let me tell you all that I have changed my cell number to a local number finally. My new cell number is Well it has now been over a year since I joined the Western area Extension Agents in programming. I still have not had enough time to visit each and every farmer but with working three counties it takes a while to get around to meeting everyone. If you would like me to visit your farm please give me a call at one of the local Extension Offices. Sincerely, Craig USDA Has Local Food Directories Contact Us The USDA has online Local Food Directories that help consumers locate farmers markets, on-farm markets, CSAs, and food hubs. If you are a farmer who has an on farm market or CSA you need to list your farm. You can also check and see if the areas you are selling such as a food hub have a listing. The directories are managed and operated by the Agricultural Marketing Service. The website - localfooddirectories.com/ Henderson County 100 Jackson Park Rd Hendersonville, NC (828) Phone (828) Fax henderson.ces.ncsu.edu Editor: R. Craig Mauney craig_mauney@ncsu.edu wncveggies.blogspot.com Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments 2015 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook The Handbook is available online now and by the middle of March we should have hard copies available to pick up in the Extension Offices -

2 US Bee Buffer Project: Honey Bee Habitat Enhancement The Pollinator Partnership (P2) is looking to partner with North Carolina farmers, foresters, land managers and land owners to participate in a honey bee forage habitat enhancement effort called the US Bee Buffer Project. A honey bee seed mix will be provided at no cost to plant Bee Buffers. The US Bee Buffer Project will create foraging habitat of pollen and nectar sources essential to honey bee health. Requirements: 1-active farm, forest, easement, set-aside, landscape; 2-ability to plant 0.25 to 3 acres with the US Bee Buffer seed mix; 3-commitment to keep the Bee Buffer in place; and 4-allow beekeepers and researchers on-site Benefits to participants: 1-free seeds and planting information; 2-supplemental pollination of flowering plants; 3-leadership participation in the beginnings of a nation-wide effort to support honey bees; 4-potential for enriched soil, reduction in invasive plant species, enhanced wildlife habitat If you are interested in participating in this nation-wide effort and hosting a Bee Buffer, visit to fill out a brief eligibility questionnaire. Please contact Mary Byrne at the Pollinator Partnership, or mb@pollinator.org with any questions about the Project. Eight Annual NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting Wednesday March 11, 2015 Cleveland County Extension Office Auditorium Shelby, NC Agenda: 8:45-9:00 Registration 9:00-9:05 Opening Remarks and Welcome. Daniel Shires, NC Cooperative Extension 9:05-10:00 Ins and Outs of H2A Worker Program, Dan Bremer AgWorksInc 10:00-10:15 Break 10:15-11:15 Making the Grade Blackberry Fruit Quality and Grading, NCDA&CS 11:15-12:00 Legislative Update for your Farm, Debbie Hamrick NC Farm Bureau 12:00-1:00 Lunch and Vendor Visits 1:00-1:20 Impacts of Herbicide Strip Width, Wayne Mitchem NCSU 1:20-1:50 Blackberry Pesticide Updates, Andy Rollins Clemson Extension 1:50-2:15 Blackberry Bloom to Ripe Study, Daniel Shires NCCE 2:15-3:00 New Blackberry Varieties for Replant Considerations, Gina Fernandez, NCSU 3:00 Adjourn You are invited to attend the Eight annual NCCBRGA meeting. In order to plan for the meal you will need to RSVP by March 6th by calling If you have any questions, need directions or if you would like to sponsor the meeting, feel free to call. There will be a $12 registration fee for the meeting. We will also be collecting 2015 NCCBRGA annual membership dues. Make sure to thank and visit our numerous sponsors which will be set in the back of the auditorium! 2

3 22 nd Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference Who: For healthy eaters, home growers, & farmers! What: This much-loved annual event provides practical, regionally-appropriate workshops on organic growing, permaculture, homesteading, urban farming, and rural living. When: March 7-8, 2015 Time: 9am to 5:30pm on both Saturday & Sunday, plus a keynote Saturday night. Where: UNCA in Asheville, NC Pre-Event: Pre-conference workshops on Friday, March 6, Keynote Address: What to do About Science & Farming, with world-renowned soil biologist Dr. Elaine Ingham on Saturday, March 7, 2015, Lipinsky Auditorium, UNCA Campus, Asheville, NC Cost: $45 for Saturday, $40 for Sunday (Early Bird Registration by January 30, 2015). Registration is an additional $15 after January 30th and at the door. Organic Growers School website: Vegetable Grafting Workshop to be Held Date: Friday, March 20, 2015 Time: 10am to 3pm Location: CEFS (Main Service Building), Farm Road, Goldsboro, NC Registration Fee: $25 (Includes Lunch) Register online at: Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 18 th The goal of this workshop is to learn about vegetable production through the utilization of grafting for disease management and enhanced plant vigor and yield. Participants will learn why grafting is an important tool in vegetable production, become familiar with commercially available rootstocks and learn about some important research projects underway. In addition, participants will learn the art and the science of tomato grafting through hands-on experience. Each person will receive tomato plants which they will use to practice proper techniques as well as learn the importance of and how to build and manage a healing chamber, where plants are kept while the grafts heal. A tremendous amount of grafting research has been done using tomatoes, however, additional crops, such as cucumber, melon and watermelon are also being grafted. Participants will receive an introduction into the fascinating world of cucurbit grafting, as well. A follow-up to this workshop will be held in the early summer (most likely July). The Vegetable Grafting Field Day will be held at the Small Farm Unit and participants will see different rootstock/ scion combinations, learn how to do disease ratings and have a tomato taste test! REGISTRATION: Please complete your registration online, print a 'ticket' and mail that in with your $25 workshop registration fee BEFORE MARCH 18 to secure your spot! 3

4 Grant Writing Workshop for Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs April 14, 2015 Burke County Extension Center (Morganton, NC) April 21, 2015 Mount Olive University (Mount Olive, NC) Time each day - 9 am to 4 pm Come learn about materials and resources that can improve your success rate for USDA Ag Marketing Service grant programs, including the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). This training is open to individuals and organizations and is offered at no cost to participants! Register here for Morganton training Register here for Mount Olive training QUESTIONS? Contact - Becky Bowen at blbowen@ncsu.edu or GAP Workshops to be Held Across the State In partnership with NC State University, NC Cooperative Extension and CEFS, CFSA is hosting Fresh Produce Good Agricultural Practice Workshops in the next two months in Polk and Wayne Counties. Navigating the USDA GAP Audit combines classroom and on-farm instruction to provide farmers with tools to reduce food safety risks and meet market requirements. Available resources to assist with the implementation of an effective on-farm food safety program, including costshare assistance and consulting services, will be discussed. Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance to fulfill training requirements for USDA GAP/GHP certification. More information, including a registration form and event flyer, is available online. Polk County - March 11 Location: 60 Gibson Street, Columbus, NC Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: $20, lunch included Wayne County - March 24 Location: 208 W. Chestnut Street, Goldsboro, NC Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: $20, lunch included Questions? Contact Anna MacDonald Dobbs for registration issues: anna@carolinafarmstewards.org, Contact Trish Tripp, Local Produce Safety Coordinator, for content questions: trish@carolinafarmstewards.org,

5 NC-VA Regional Hops Conference: Bringing Hop Growers and Brewers Together NC Alternative Crops and Organics Program at NC State University Friday, March 13, 2015 at 2pm to Saturday, March 14 at 5:30pm, Winston-Salem, NC See this link for more information - Get in the Guide! Connect with customers by listing your farm in ASAP s Local Food Guide, a directory of local farms - and the businesses that support them - in the Southern Appalachians. An online listing is free. Increase your exposure to potential customers. The option to be listed in the consumer and/or wholesale Guide. Creating a listing also certifies your farm as Appalachian Grown - identifying your farm as authentically local to our region. Certification will give you access to a variety of branded packaging products, promotional materials, and other services and resources. 74% of certified Appalachian Grown farms surveyed said the program helped to increase their sales in Visit appalachiangrown.org and click on Get in the Guide or call with questions. Wax Boxes for 2015 Season. Interested in Appalachian Grown Wax Boxes for the 2015 season? Fill out the quick survey at and let ASAP know! Blueberry Pruning and Production Workshop Event Date: March 11, 2015 Time: 2pm to 5pm Location: Cloud 9 Farm, 137 Bob Barnwell Road, Fletcher, NC Speakers: Craig Mauney, Extension Area Agent-Commercial Vegetables; Meghan Baker, Extension Agent-Small Farms Registration required: Register by contacting meghan_baker@ncsu.edu (828) or craig_mauney@ncsu.edu, (828) Blueberries are a potentially profitable specialty crop that commercial and backyard growers can produce successfully. Participants will be guided through the pruning decision making process and well as discussing production aspects of blueberries. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge of proper pruning techniques to maximize disease and insect control thus maximizing plant health and productivity. O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Did you know that you can receive this newsletter by ? If you are interested, please contact us by calling or by at ivy_olson@ncsu.edu 5

6 North Carolina Cooperative Extension Henderson County Center 100 Jackson Park Road Hendersonville, NC Upcoming Events Upcoming Events To see upcoming events please check our website henderson.ces.ncsu.edu Below are topics and dates to remind you of the events: Farm City Day - Sat., Oct 3, 2015 Persons with disability and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate in programs mentioned in this newsletter, by contacting Craig Mauney or designated contact at or in person at the Extension Office at least 4 days prior to the event. 100 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $50.00 or $0.50 per copy