Look for the Appalachian Grown logo when you shop or eat out...

and find food that's thousands of miles fresher.

The Appalachian Grown symbol is displayed with farm products grown or raised in Western North Carolina and the southern Appalachian mountains. When you see the Appalachian Grown logo, you know you’re buying fresher foods that support family farms, strengthen the local economy, preserve rural culture, and protect the natural beauty of the Appalachian mountains.

 Get certified Appalachian Grown--for free--

if you're an Appalachian farmer or use local products in your business.

The Appalachian Grown™ program of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project certifies food and agricultural products grown or raised on farms in Western North Carolina and the southern Appalachian mountains.  Displayed with food and farm products, the Appalachian Grown label helps consumers, retailers, and wholesalers better distinguish and identify local agricultural products. 

For the 2009 growing season, participation in the program is free. Appalachian Grown certified producers and sellers can get Appalachian Grown labels, signage, and promotional materials.

The Appalachian Grown™ label is a trademark of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; to protect the integrity of the label and the local food market local producers, food processors, retailers, and wholesalers must meet particular standards and agree to comply with logo-use restrictions.  The standards and restrictions are meant to protect the label; the Appalachian Grown label may only be used to represent food and agricultural products grown or raised by certified Appalachian farms.

Find out more about Appalachian Grown below.

All downloads require the free Adobe PDF reader and open in a new browser window.

Frequently Asked Questions about Appalachian Grown

What is Appalachian Grown?
What are the goals of the program? 
Who can participate in the program? 
Why do I want to buy a product with the Appalachian Grown logo?
How is the logo protected?
Are labor and environmental standards covered in the certification? 
How is ASAP funded?

FOR PRODUCERS

How do I become an Appalachian Grown producer? 
How frequently will my farm need to be re-certified?
What happens if my farm is not compliant with certification and logo-use standards?
How is certification verified? 
What will it cost my business to participate in the Appalachian Grown program?
What are the standards for use of the Appalachian Grown label? 
How can I use the Appalachian Grown label to promote my farm?

FOR RETAILERS AND FOOD HANDLERS

How will I benefit from participating in the program?
What do I need to do in order to participate in the program? 
What will it cost my business to participate in the Appalachian Grown program?
What are the standards for use of the Appalachian Grown logo?
What are some of the ways I can use the Appalachian Grown logo?
What happens if my business is not compliant with standards for logo use? 

What is Appalachian Grown? (top)
Appalachian Grown is a program that certifies food and agricultural products grown or raised on farms in Western North Carolina and the southern Appalachian Mountains.  Displayed with food and farm products, the Appalachian Grown label readily identifies local agricultural products and helps consumers make informed buying choices that will benefit the farms of Appalachia and our local economy.  List of Appalachian Counties (opens a new browser window; requires free Adobe PDF reader)

What are the goals of the program?  (top)
In its mission to support Appalachian farms and rebuild a community-based food system, ASAP developed the Appalachian Grown program to expand local markets for Appalachian farms and to provide a way the public can easily identify products from local farms. 

Who can participate in the program?  (top)
The Appalachian Grown program incorporates Appalachian farmers, retailers of local food and farm products, and consumers.   Buy Appalachian and brand your products.

Why do I want to buy a product with the Appalachian Grown logo? (top)
When you buy food or a farm product with the Appalachian Grown label you are getting a product that was grown or raised in our region by a local farmer.  What does this mean?  It means that you are buying a product that is fresher, better tasting, and more nutritious.  It means that you are supporting a local food system that contributes to the local economy, that is better for the environment, preserves the farming heritage of Appalachia, and protects our mountain landscape.  

On average, our food today travels 1500 miles from seed to plate.  This distance translates into a loss of freshness and nutrition and into a loss of control over the way our food is produced.  Food that is grown to travel thousands of miles is bred to hold up over distances and time and not for taste.  Long distance transport consumes nonrenewable fossil fuels.  This distance also means we don’t know the people that grow our food or have any knowledge about their production and business practices.  If we no longer know our farmers, we have less control over the way our food is grown and over the kind of environmental and social impacts of food production. 

How is the logo protected? (top)
The Appalachian Grown™ label is a trademark of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.  To protect the integrity of the label and the local food market, producers and retailers must agree to comply with certain logo use restrictions and sign a binding License Agreement.  The requirements and agreement are meant to protect the label and state that the label may only be used to represent food and agricultural products grown or raised by certified Appalachian farms. 

Are labor and environmental standards covered in the certification?  (top)
At ASAP, we believe the labor and environmental issues associated with agriculture are important.  Supporting local agriculture is a powerful way to shape the food system and impact the kind of environmental and labor standards you want to see.  Localizing agriculture connects farmers and community members; it means that consumers are in direct contact with the farmers that grow their food or are only one or two steps removed.  With this kind of close connection, you can make informed choices about the food you eat and in turn foster greater economic, social, and environmental health.  We encourage you to get to know the farmers that grow your food.  If you have direct contact with farmers, you can ask them directly about their production and business practices.  If you buy your food through a retailer, produce managers are often knowledgeable about the local farms that supply their store.    

PRODUCERS

How do I become an Appalachian Grown producer?  (top )
The Appalachian Grown™ logo certifies farms that grow or raise food and agricultural products in an Appalachian county.  To become a certified farm and market products with the Appalachian Grown label, producers must confirm the location of their farm in an Appalachian County and certify that they will only market products as Appalachian Grown that are raised on the certified farm. 

All downloads require the free Adobe PDF reader and open in a new browser window

Producers:

Fill out the Appalachian Grown Producer Certification and License Agreement and mail or fax to ASAP.

Food Processors:

Fill out the Appalachian Grown Agreement for Processed Products and mail or fax to ASAP. 

Mailing address:   
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
729 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806

Fax number: 828-236-1280

How frequently will my farm need to be re-certified? (top)
All farm certifications expire annually on April 2.  Depending on the date you sign the certification form, you will need to renew it every 12 to 18 months.  To renew, producers need to sign and submit a new Producer Certification form and License Agreement. 

What happens if my farm is not compliant with certification and logo-use standards? (top)
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Appalachian Grown Producer Certification and License Agreement will result in immediate termination from the program and of the right to use the Appalachian Grown logo and related promotional materials.

How is certification verified?  (top)
Use of the Appalachian Grown logo by retail partners and certified producers is governed by a set of logo-use standards and a binding License Agreement. 

What will it cost my business to participate in the Appalachian Grown program? (top)
For the 2009 growing season, participation in the program for producers is free. 

What are the standards for use of the Appalachian Grown label?  (top)
The standards for use of the Appalachian Grown label are outlined in your agreement. Only certified farms can use the Appalachian Grown label, and the label can only be used to promote food and farm products grown on certified farms.       

How can I use the Appalachian Grown label to promote my farm?  (top)
The Appalachian Grown label is available in different sticker sizes, designed for direct sales and to affix to cases of produce sold wholesale. ASAP also creates and provides a cost-share for various types of signage for farm use and retail environments, and customized materials that include the Appalachian Grown logo. Contact Kate for more information.

RETAILERS

How will I benefit from participating in the program?  (top)
Recent research conducted by ASAP shows that the demand for locally-grown farm products in western North Carolina is at an all time high.  More and more consumers in the communities of Western North Carolina are choosing to buy locally-grown farm products because they want to know where their food comes from and who grew it.  Recent research conducted by ASAP shows that for consumers in Western North Carolina, local food is an important consideration when choosing a grocer or restaurant.  Western North Carolina residents believe that locally produced foods offer higher quality and have indicated that, when locally produced foods cost a little more, they are worth the extra cost.  As a retail partner in the Appalachian Grown program, you will gain exposure for your food related business.  Western North Carolina communities support local farms and the businesses that sell local farm products.    

What do I need to do in order to participate in the program?  (top)
To become a retail partner and market products with the Appalachian Grown label, retailers must agree to adhere to the requirements outlined in the Logo-Use Standards and sign and submit the Appalachian Grown License Agreement.   As an extension of the Appalachian Grown certified producers use, any retailer may use the logo to identified the certified farm product with the product. Only Appalachian Grown Partners are allowed expanded use of the logo and marketing materials. Only businesses that are owned and operated and do most of their business in Appalachian counties can become Appalachian Grown Partners. Contact Kate for more details.

Retailers and Wholesalers:

Fill-out the Appalachian Grown License Agreement for Handlers and mail or fax to ASAP (ASAP’s mailing address and fax number are at the bottom of the form). 

Mail or fax the signed License Agreement. 

Mailing address:
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
729 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806

Fax number: 828-236-1280

What will it cost my business to participate in the Appalachian Grown program? (top)
For the 2009 growing season, participation for retailers is free.

What are the standards for use of the Appalachian Grown logo? (top)
As a retail partner in the Appalachian Grown program, you are required to adhere to the provisions outlined in the Appalachian Grown License Agreement.  The Appalachian Grown label can be used by retailers to promote food and farm products grown or raised within the boundaries of the ASAP Local Food Campaign region by certified Appalachian Grown farms; a current list of Appalachian Grown certified farms is available upon request.  Contact Allison. 

What are some of the ways I can use the Appalachian Grown logo?  (top)
The Appalachian Grown logo can be made available as a graphic file for use on menus, as window or door stickers, and in poster form, for you to use as appropriate.  Additionally, profiles of farms can be made available for posting in your restaurant and/or training your wait staff to communicate with diners interested in local products.  Retail partners that sell local farm products can be listed in ASAP’s Local Food Guide. 

What happens if my business is not compliant with standards for logo use?  (top)
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Appalachian Grown License Agreement will result in immediate termination from the program and the loss of the right to use the Appalachian Grown logo and related promotional materials.

All downloads require the free Adobe PDF reader and open in a new browser window

If you have questions about the Appalachian Grown program or how to participate in this program, please contact Kate .