• By Mark Tucker
• Posted Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Farmers and Consumers Establish Local Foods Project

Increasing the availability of fresh, local foods for consumers and supporting local growers is becoming more convenient thanks to a new cooperative recently organized in Forsyth County. The Triad Farm to Table Cooperative is a joint venture involving growers and consumers. Forsyth County Cooperative Extension helped to organize the group. County Extension Director, Mark Tucker believes that the cooperative model involving farmers and consumers in making decisions and operating the cooperative is a great idea that ensures that everyone benefits from the effort. Tucker credits a similar program in Moore County, the Sandhills Farm To Table Cooperative and Forsyth County Farm Bureau who provided initial funding for the project with providing the critical knowledge and resources to establish the Forsyth project.

The cooperative is organized as a CSA (community supported agriculture) selling subscriptions for weekly or bi-weekly delivery of boxes of mixed produce to convenient pick-up locations throughout the county. Volunteers who man the pick-up locations and help sell subscriptions can earn funding for their organization. Additional volunteers are needed to help pack boxes and perform other duties which will help the cooperative to run as efficiently as possible. Extension Master Gardeners are helping with many activities but anyone interested in local foods is welcome to participate in the project.

Each box will include a selection of produce grown in Forsyth and neighboring counties and picked at the peak of freshness, along with a newsletter containing product information and recipes for the week’s featured fruits and vegetables.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin June 1 and continue for 12 weeks, with pick-ups scheduled for Wednesdays or Thursdays at the various locations. Scheduled delivery sites so far include Cash Lovell Stables on Darwick Rd, Clodbuster Farms in Kernersville, Belews Creek Christian Church in Belews Creek, Kingswood United Methodist Church in Rural Hall, Pfafftown Christian Church in Pfafftown and WFUBMC Downtown Health Plaza on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Additional sites are needed in other areas of the county.

Consumers may choose from a single or double box delivered weekly or every other week. Prices and sign up information are available on the Farm to Table website. For more information contact Lindsey Butner at 336-409-3178 or Susan Williamson at 782-0269 or email triadfarm2table@yahoo.com. Help us to develop a sustainable local foods industry in Forsyth County.