It’s Buy Haywood week here at MountainWise! While we have already given you a brief overview, the Buy Hayood Project Coordinator, Tina Masiarelli, has even more information to share about this great program. We hope you enjoy this post, and stay tuned for Parts 3 & 4!
Greetings MountainWise Community!
My name is Tina Masciarelli and I have the privilege of serving as the Project Coordinator for Buy Haywood. Before I dive into a description of the initiative, allow me to set the stage by taking your readers on a little journey:
Can you imagine a place where farmers grow hundreds of acres of fresh produce, graze cattle, raise shrubs, trees, herbs, and bees—create dozens of value added products like Peach Shine Jam and Max Patch Gourmet Pepper Butter—while embodying the character of a rural community?
Welcome to our Haywood County!
For a glimpse of our colorful and diverse agripreneural community of farmers, growers and producers—enjoy this video album from our YouTube Channel, CLICK HERE. Other Buy Haywood video albums are available: www.youtube.com/BuyHaywoodProject
The Buy Haywood Market Development Project is a grant funded initiative designed to support Haywood County farmers, locally grown products, farmlands and the preservation of our rich agricultural heritage.
We are managed by the Haywood County Economic Development Commission and receive vital support from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund—and community partners like the Haywood Advancement Foundation, Bethel Rural Community Organization, Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, Haywood County Health Department, Mountain Wise in both Haywood and Jackson Counties, and Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP).
Community collaborations include WNC Healthy Kids, Healthy Haywood, Haywood County WIC program, Haywood County Public Library, Haywood County 4H Program’s “Farm to Table” Summer Camp, Pigeon Community Development Center, Haywood Community College’s Adult Education Program, and Haywood County Schools.
Since its inception in 2007, Buy Haywood has worked to connect our growing base of community-minded consumers with quality Haywood County grown products. Our reach extends beyond “local food” to support over 700 farms encompassing more than 56,000 acres in Haywood County. Our community of value-added producers, “Farm to Table” restaurants, and specialty food stores carrying items with locally grown ingredients is literally expanding every day.
Why is the “Get Local” movement so important? According to Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, U.S. agriculture is connected to one in twelve American jobs. Supporting local farmers, growers and producers strengthens rural economies and helps fuel innovation—at the local and regional level. Agriculture is a big part of Haywood County and Western North Carolina. Support of local agripreneurs keeps farms viable and preserves access to local products while protecting farmland and the rural character of the region. In Haywood County alone, agriculture accounts for $22,688,433 in annual revenue.
Check back tomorrow to learn more about all of the great programs involved with Buy Haywood!