What’s a farmer to do?

The April freeze left many WNC farmers facing brown blossoms and bleak prospects for the 2007 growing season. Some financial assistance may come from state or federal disaster funds, but such assistance often falls short. To help close the gap, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, N.C. State University and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service are offering free advice on freeze recovery through production of alternative crops.

An informational meeting has been scheduled this week to provide growers with information on saving existing crops and about alternative crop options based on economics, market options and the needs of those markets. Food will be provided courtesy of Ingles Grocery.

Speakers will include: Jeanine Davis, N.C. State University Specialty Crops Program; Diane Ducharme, N.C Cooperative Extension Service; and Charlie Jackson, director of ASAP.  Representatives from area market outlets have also been invited.

The event will be held at he Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (455 Research Drive in Fletcher) on Thursday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more info, contact Diane Ducharme at 697-4891

Directions to the center are here.

— Cecil Bothwell, staff writer

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About Cecil Bothwell
A writer for Mountain Xpress since three years before there WAS an MX--back in the days of GreenLine. Former managing editor of the paper, founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, Heartstone, member of the national editorial board of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, publisher of Brave Ulysses Books, radio host of "Blows Against the Empire" on WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, co-author of the best selling guide Finding your way in Asheville. Lives with three cats, macs and cacti. His other car is a canoe. Paints, plays music and for the past five years has been researching and soon to publish a critical biography--Billy Graham: Prince of War:

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