ASAP holds annual WNC Farm Tour June 24-25, fundraising dinner June 2

From the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project:

ASAP’s Farm Tour Returns on June 24-25
ASAP’s annual Farm Tour connects the public to over 20 local farms in WNC

ASHEVILLE, NC (April, 25, 2017)—On June 24 and 25, over 20 Appalachian Grown™  family farms will welcome visitors to their farms during ASAP’s highly anticipated Farm Tour. This fun and educational weekend offers the public a chance to experience firsthand how food is grown and raised in the mountains, sample farm-fresh products, and meet the community’s local producers.

Farm Tour passes are on sale now for $30 at asapconnections.org. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Passes can also be purchased the weekend of the tour from any farm for $40. Information about the tour can be found online as well as in our Farm Tour guide (available at area businesses in mid-May). Tour guides include a map, driving directions, tour tips, and descriptions of participating farms.

“The Farm Tour is ASAP’s mission in action as it gets people connected to the farms in their community,” says Robin Lenner, ASAP’s Event Coordinator. “Visiting farms is an opportunity for the public to learn about how food is grown and raised in the region including what food grows well here, how farmers care for the land, and about farmer’s growing practices. It’s also a chance to meet local farmers and learn about their stories, hopes, and dreams.”

“ASAP’s Farm Tour is an incredibly valuable weekend for our family farm,” says participant Jeff Frisbee, owner of Addison Farms Vineyard. “The tour is a great tool to showcase the diversity of products the farms in Western North Carolina have to offer, and it is a way for the people who love to support local agriculture to get out, visit their favorite farms, and find new favorites too.”

Farm Tour goers can find more tour and farm details at asapconnections.org, including a list of farms that are new to the tour, what activities each farm will be offering, and how to volunteer. ASAP will also share event information and stories leading up to the tour on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with our hashtag #asapfarmtour.

To help celebrate the Farm Tour, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is hosting Brews & Barns Dinner ASAP Farm Tour Kick-Off. The event is a four course, beer-paired, family style dinner featuring ingredients from participating farms on the Farm Tour. Occurring Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. in Sierra Nevada’s High Gravity Room, tickets for this exclusive event will be $100 per person with proceeds going to ASAP. Gratuity is included in the purchase of a ticket as is the opportunity to win a weekend Farm Tour pass, or purchase one at 50% off. For more information about the dinner, contact taproomeventsnc@sierranevada.com.

2017 Farm Tour Participating Farms

• Barnardsville Cluster
  
  • Big Ivy Little Farm*
    
  • Gather Heritage Farm*
    
  • Good Fibrations Angora Goats 

• Candler Cluster
  
  • Smoking J’s Fiery Foods
    
  • Venezia Dream

• Fairview Cluster
  
  • Cane Creek Creamery
    
  • Flying Cloud Farm
    
  • Hickory Nut Gap Farm

• Henderson Cluster
  
  • Holly Spring Farm*
    
  • North River Farms
    
  • Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

• Leicester Cluster
  
  • Addison Farms Vineyard
    
  • Farm House Beef
    
  • Franny’s Farm
    
  • Long Branch Environmental Education Center
    
  • Reeves Home Place Farm

• Madison Cluster
  
  • Dry Ridge Farm
    
  • Spinning Spider Creamery
    
  • Zimmerman Berry Farm

• Smith Mill Works Cluster
  
  • Jah Works Farm*
    
  • OG Pepper Company*
    
  • L.O.T.U.S. Urban Farm and Apiary*

*New to the tour this year or returning after an extended break from the tour.   

Sponsors for the 2017 Farm Tour are Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Sierra Nevada, Whole Foods Market, Carolina Farm Credit, Food Matters Market, B.B. Barns, King Daddy’s Chicken & Waffle, Corner Kitchen, Chestnut, The Montford, The Hyatt Place Asheville, One Click Fix, and Allegra. Media sponsors include Asheville Citizen-Times, The Laurel of Asheville, WNC Woman, and Food Life.