Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
North Carolina ranks 10th in the U.S. in the number of farms selling foods locally, and ranks 11th in total direct farm sales, according to the USDA’s first-ever nationwide survey of local food marketing practices.
For 2015, 5,249 North Carolina farms reported direct farm sales of food and value-added products, and brought in a combined total of more than $187 million. Sales categories include both fresh food and value-added products such as bottled milk, cheese, meat, jam, cider and wine.
Farms sell directly to consumers in a variety of ways, including at farmers markets, roadside stands and through community supported agriculture services.
Commissioner Troxler says the survey results indicate that North Carolina is moving in the right direction in connecting consumers and farmers.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about the local food marketing practices survey.
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