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CFWNC Awards $25,000 Grant to Support Mitchell-Yancey Farm Project

Many challenges face small farmers across Western North Carolina, and a grant announced today from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina will help farmers in Mitchell and Yancey counties address some of them.

The grant will support the efforts of the TRACTOR project (the Toe River Aggregation Center and Training Organization Regional), a strong alliance between Mitchell and Yancey counties that aims to increase sales and economic opportunity for farmer. TRACTOR is creating a food hub for the region that will provide a shared aggregation facility, expanded access to customers, and joint marketing. The Community Foundation’s $25,000 grant will add rental access to key field equipment necessary for small or transitioning farmers to the mix.

Part of a comprehensive two-county plan to support farmers through a leased post-harvest facility, TRACTOR will coordinate the aggregation, distribution and marketing of locally grown fruits and vegetables from small producers. The facility, to be located in Burnsville, is scheduled to open in May and will offer processing, packaging and distribution as well as GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) training and technical assistance. Read more.

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