North Carolina State University (NCSU) has launched a three-year program to help small, independent hog farmers sell pork direct to consumers.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has provided $600,000 to fund North Carolina CHOICES. The program will assist farmers in producing either certified organic, environmentally free or antibiotic-free pork, and selling products direct.
Tied to the new program is an existing effort known as “community-supported agriculture,” in which consumers contract with farmers to buy farm production to assure farmers a market and provide consumers with farm-fresh products.
“We believe our project creates a win-win situation for both farmers and consumers,” says project manager Susan Jelinek of NCSU’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems.
Farmers and consumers interested in participating should phone Jelinek at (919) 513-7346 or e-mail susan_jelinek@ncsu.edu.