Arugula
Contrarian Farm



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.6 out of 5 (5 ratings): All Time

About Contrarian Farm:

Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields started Contrarian Farm in 2008 in Pittsboro, NC, when they were students in the sustainable agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College.  A couple of years later, they moved the operation its new home on about 75 acres of family land in Westfield, NC, where it is now run by Brittany.  The soon-to-be-expanded growing area currently consists of about 3 acres of revitalized tobacco fields, and is surrounded by picturesque views of Pilot Mountain and apple orchards. While the soil is naturally mineral-rich and well-drained, the land was previously conventionally farmed with tobacco, corn and soy, so there have been many challenges to overcome. 

The farm is also home to pastured heritage-breed meat rabbits and a modest dairy goat herd.  While not certified organic, Contrarian Farm does not utilize any synthetic chemicals and employs sustainable practices, such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and the incorporation of livestock manure to continually build up the soil while striving to increase the variety and quantity of produce grown.

Although it is a relatively young farm, Contrarian has quickly built a reputation as an operation that’s not only interested in good farm stewardship practices, but also interested in putting a complete meal on the plate.  The term “contrarian” comes from the financial industry, where it refers to an investor who is distrustful of conventional wisdom. This definition suits the farm well, since, by necessity, it is smaller than most, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for by growing crops and choosing sales outlets that actually feed people, rather than mindlessly following the latest fad.

The foremost operating principle at Contrarian is to provide the highest quality local food for the best prices to people who care about making it a major part of their meals.  Brittany has received consistently excellent feedback from customers on the quality and quantity of the farm’s products.  A bunch of Contrarian turnips or kale provides enough vegetable for it to be an integral part of your meal – a major ingredient, not just a garnish.  In keeping with this principle, Brittany is constantly experimenting with ways to supply staple crops to people year-round from a small, one-woman farm.  This year, available through Papa Spud’s, you can expect to find tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, radishes, arugula, turnips, winter squash, colored bell peppers, swiss chard, rutabagas, beets, collards, kale and cabbages.

If you’re into making local foods a major part of your eating life, you’ve come to the right place.  By navigating to this page, you’ve been introduced to your local grower, harvester, packager and delivery driver all at once.  One person handles your food from its conception to the end of production and it is with great pride that Brittany says, “If you know me, your farmer, you truly know your food.”

 

Beans, Green
Cottle Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: yes
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (3 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.49 out of 5 (2082 ratings): All Time

About Cottle Farms:

Cottle Farms started out in the 1960’s as just a few acres of strawberries, and has grown into a 300 acre operation. About 7 years ago, Herbie Cottle began switching over to certified organic farming after recognizing they were already using a number of sustainable techniques on their conventional acres, and in order to focus more on sustainability and quality. They continue to learn from and improve upon their organic operations, and enjoy each day as an opportunity to get out and work with the land.

www.CottleFarms.com

Beets, Chioggia, w/ tops
New Oaks Farm



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4 out of 5 (3 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4 out of 5 (3 ratings): All Time

About New Oaks Farm:
New Oaks Farm is a new family produce farm growing out of an old family tobacco farm. The land itself is a mixture of mature hardwood trees and smallish sandy loam soil fields. All in, we think its an ideal place to grow diverse produce crops. Reggie Oakley, our founder, grew up working the same land that the farm occupies today and "the big white farm-house in the curve" is still "home" though Reggie, his wife and three children are full-time Durham residents.

We believe that old ways (like crop rotation, crop diversity, composting, and livestock rotations), combined with the best modern practices (limited tillage, season extension practices, and drip irrigation) provides the key to a practical, sustainable regional food system that can deliver freshness, convenience and a viable future for the small farms that surround Durham and Orange counties.

You can find us on Wednesdays (3-6 pm) and Saturdays (8-12 pm) at the Person County Farmers Market. You can also find us in your driveway if you become a member of our no-commitment Durham-centric home-delivery service!

We also plan to apply to the Durham farmer's market during its annual enrollment in January 2012.

We have big dreams for this small farm!
http://www.localharvest.org/new-oaks-farm-M45893

Beets, Red, w/ tops
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4.71 out of 5 (14 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.49 out of 5 (408 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Bok Choy, baby, conv.
Mary Dimpleton Farm



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4.59 out of 5 (17 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.59 out of 5 (17 ratings): All Time

Bok Choy, conv.
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.38 out of 5 (421 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Broccoli
Eastern Carolina Organics



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: yes
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (3 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.74 out of 5 (334 ratings): All Time

About Eastern Carolina Organics:

Eastern Carolina Organics (ECO) is a wholesale marketer and distributor working to connect local retailers and restaurants with local, organic farms and their products. ECO has been a tremendous resource for Papa Spud’s, helping us to reach organic growers outside of the Triangle and in building the infrastructure necessary to actually get those products from the farm to your door!

Established in 2004 and operating out of Pittsboro, NC, ECO works with over a dozen certified organic growers from a variety of different regions throughout NC. They are owned by 13 growers, and 2 staff members, with 80% of their sales going right back to the grower. They work with farmers all across the state, which enables them to offer a wide variety of products from each of North Carolina’s unique climatic regions. ECO also works as a crucial communication center, working closely with customers to properly gauge demand for each growing season. That information is then communicated to each grower, as they are assisted in planning their coming harvest in an attempt to build a robust and varied supply that accurately meets expected demand. ECO is a crucial player in the continued development of North Carolina’s local food infrastructure.

http://easterncarolinaorganics.com

Broccoli Raab
New Oaks Farm



Common in southern Italian cuisine, Raab (or Rapini) is more closely related to a turnip green than broccoli but it gets its name from the small broccoli-like florets that are intermixed with the greens. A nice, nutty-flavored green that is not bitter.
Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
N/A out of 5 (0 ratings): N/A
N/A out of 5 (0 ratings): All Time

About New Oaks Farm:
New Oaks Farm is a new family produce farm growing out of an old family tobacco farm. The land itself is a mixture of mature hardwood trees and smallish sandy loam soil fields. All in, we think its an ideal place to grow diverse produce crops. Reggie Oakley, our founder, grew up working the same land that the farm occupies today and "the big white farm-house in the curve" is still "home" though Reggie, his wife and three children are full-time Durham residents.

We believe that old ways (like crop rotation, crop diversity, composting, and livestock rotations), combined with the best modern practices (limited tillage, season extension practices, and drip irrigation) provides the key to a practical, sustainable regional food system that can deliver freshness, convenience and a viable future for the small farms that surround Durham and Orange counties.

You can find us on Wednesdays (3-6 pm) and Saturdays (8-12 pm) at the Person County Farmers Market. You can also find us in your driveway if you become a member of our no-commitment Durham-centric home-delivery service!

We also plan to apply to the Durham farmer's market during its annual enrollment in January 2012.

We have big dreams for this small farm!
http://www.localharvest.org/new-oaks-farm-M45893

Broccoli, conv.
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.3 out of 5 (263 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Cabbage, Green, conv.
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4.17 out of 5 (6 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.64 out of 5 (677 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Carrots, loose, no tops, conv.
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4.36 out of 5 (11 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.43 out of 5 (117 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Carrots, small, w/ tops
Tims Garden



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
1 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
1 out of 5 (1 ratings): All Time

Chard, Swiss
Contrarian Farm



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
N/A out of 5 (0 ratings): N/A
N/A out of 5 (0 ratings): All Time

About Contrarian Farm:

Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields started Contrarian Farm in 2008 in Pittsboro, NC, when they were students in the sustainable agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College.  A couple of years later, they moved the operation its new home on about 75 acres of family land in Westfield, NC, where it is now run by Brittany.  The soon-to-be-expanded growing area currently consists of about 3 acres of revitalized tobacco fields, and is surrounded by picturesque views of Pilot Mountain and apple orchards. While the soil is naturally mineral-rich and well-drained, the land was previously conventionally farmed with tobacco, corn and soy, so there have been many challenges to overcome. 

The farm is also home to pastured heritage-breed meat rabbits and a modest dairy goat herd.  While not certified organic, Contrarian Farm does not utilize any synthetic chemicals and employs sustainable practices, such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and the incorporation of livestock manure to continually build up the soil while striving to increase the variety and quantity of produce grown.

Although it is a relatively young farm, Contrarian has quickly built a reputation as an operation that’s not only interested in good farm stewardship practices, but also interested in putting a complete meal on the plate.  The term “contrarian” comes from the financial industry, where it refers to an investor who is distrustful of conventional wisdom. This definition suits the farm well, since, by necessity, it is smaller than most, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for by growing crops and choosing sales outlets that actually feed people, rather than mindlessly following the latest fad.

The foremost operating principle at Contrarian is to provide the highest quality local food for the best prices to people who care about making it a major part of their meals.  Brittany has received consistently excellent feedback from customers on the quality and quantity of the farm’s products.  A bunch of Contrarian turnips or kale provides enough vegetable for it to be an integral part of your meal – a major ingredient, not just a garnish.  In keeping with this principle, Brittany is constantly experimenting with ways to supply staple crops to people year-round from a small, one-woman farm.  This year, available through Papa Spud’s, you can expect to find tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, radishes, arugula, turnips, winter squash, colored bell peppers, swiss chard, rutabagas, beets, collards, kale and cabbages.

If you’re into making local foods a major part of your eating life, you’ve come to the right place.  By navigating to this page, you’ve been introduced to your local grower, harvester, packager and delivery driver all at once.  One person handles your food from its conception to the end of production and it is with great pride that Brittany says, “If you know me, your farmer, you truly know your food.”

 

Chard, Swiss
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.48 out of 5 (33 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Cucumbers, Slicing, greenhouse
Cox Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4 out of 5 (2 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.46 out of 5 (1552 ratings): All Time

About Cox Farms:

Robbie and Janie Cox began operating Cox Farms over 40 years ago. Having being raised around the farming community, Robbie always knew he wanted to farm. In fact, at age 16, Robbie loaded up his first crop (potatoes) and hauled them to the market to sale. Originally, Cox Farms operated on 80 acres of land that had been in the family for many generations. The produce they raised was taken to the Raleigh market and sold by the truckload to wholesale distributors. Eventually, wholesale vegetable prices had to compete with cheaper, foreign produce. In order to keep farming, Robbie and Janie transitioned their farming operations to serve local markets. Cox farms scaled down to around 16 acres and began selling their produce at a street-side vegetable stand in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

In 2008, Robbie and Janie re- located their retail stand to the Raleigh Farmer’s Market where they now serve individuals as well as local restaurants. Robbie arrives in the early morning hours to sale produce to retail markets while Janie operates the produce stand 6 days a week. Cox Farms also supports their local community by taking on-site pick-up orders and drilling irrigation wells for nearby farmers.

Robbie and Janie’s current crops consist of watermelon, peppers, eggplants, patty pan squash, Mediterranean squash, red potatoes, cantaloupes, and bi-colored corn. The fields are irrigated with drip-lines, which drip water directly to the base of the plants, thus using less water. Two greenhouses are also operating and are used to produce pesticide-free cucumbers and tomatoes. For over forty years, Cox Farms has experienced, first-hand, the shifts in the farming industry. Nothing short of determination and hard work has allowed Robbie and Janie to keep growing vegetables.

http://coxfarmproduce.com

Greens, Collards
Eastern Carolina Organics



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: yes
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (5 ratings): Apr 17-18 (most recent)
4.69 out of 5 (271 ratings): All Time

About Eastern Carolina Organics:

Eastern Carolina Organics (ECO) is a wholesale marketer and distributor working to connect local retailers and restaurants with local, organic farms and their products. ECO has been a tremendous resource for Papa Spud’s, helping us to reach organic growers outside of the Triangle and in building the infrastructure necessary to actually get those products from the farm to your door!

Established in 2004 and operating out of Pittsboro, NC, ECO works with over a dozen certified organic growers from a variety of different regions throughout NC. They are owned by 13 growers, and 2 staff members, with 80% of their sales going right back to the grower. They work with farmers all across the state, which enables them to offer a wide variety of products from each of North Carolina’s unique climatic regions. ECO also works as a crucial communication center, working closely with customers to properly gauge demand for each growing season. That information is then communicated to each grower, as they are assisted in planning their coming harvest in an attempt to build a robust and varied supply that accurately meets expected demand. ECO is a crucial player in the continued development of North Carolina’s local food infrastructure.

http://easterncarolinaorganics.com

Greens, Collards, conv.
Wise Farms



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: no
Conventionally produced: yes

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (2 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.37 out of 5 (542 ratings): All Time

About Wise Farms:

Gary and Teresa Wise, along with Gary’s parents, William and Helen, own and operate Wise Farms in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The original farming operation, which was founded by Gary’s grandfather, dates back to the 1930s. After teaching for three years in Wayne County, Gary decided to take over full-time operations with the family farm. Gary’s wife, Teresa continues to teach.

Patricia Wise Lait, Gary’s sister, currently maintains an online blog called Living Wise. On her blog, Patricia shares cooking tips and recipes using the season’s homegrown vegetables Wise Farms operates year-round and serves several local markets including, the North Carolina State University Farmer’s Market (located on the campus brickyard), the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, and, during the summer, the Coastal Federal Credit Union off of Wake Forest Rd. At these markets you will find Collards, Greens, Broccoli, Squash, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Strawberries, Radishes, Onions, Corn, Beets, Turnips, Cabbage, Pecans, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Blackberries, and Melons. Gary sums it up well when he says “People don’t farm because it’s easy…It’s just a lifestyle, this is what I always wanted to do.”

http://campusfarmersmkt.wordpress.com/profiles/wisefarms/
http://patricialait.blogspot.com/

Greens, Kale, Green
Eastern Carolina Organics



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: yes
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (2 ratings): May 15-16 (most recent)
4.66 out of 5 (569 ratings): All Time

About Eastern Carolina Organics:

Eastern Carolina Organics (ECO) is a wholesale marketer and distributor working to connect local retailers and restaurants with local, organic farms and their products. ECO has been a tremendous resource for Papa Spud’s, helping us to reach organic growers outside of the Triangle and in building the infrastructure necessary to actually get those products from the farm to your door!

Established in 2004 and operating out of Pittsboro, NC, ECO works with over a dozen certified organic growers from a variety of different regions throughout NC. They are owned by 13 growers, and 2 staff members, with 80% of their sales going right back to the grower. They work with farmers all across the state, which enables them to offer a wide variety of products from each of North Carolina’s unique climatic regions. ECO also works as a crucial communication center, working closely with customers to properly gauge demand for each growing season. That information is then communicated to each grower, as they are assisted in planning their coming harvest in an attempt to build a robust and varied supply that accurately meets expected demand. ECO is a crucial player in the continued development of North Carolina’s local food infrastructure.

http://easterncarolinaorganics.com

Hakurei Salad Turnips
Contrarian Farm



Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
4.2 out of 5 (5 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.5 out of 5 (10 ratings): All Time

About Contrarian Farm:

Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields started Contrarian Farm in 2008 in Pittsboro, NC, when they were students in the sustainable agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College.  A couple of years later, they moved the operation its new home on about 75 acres of family land in Westfield, NC, where it is now run by Brittany.  The soon-to-be-expanded growing area currently consists of about 3 acres of revitalized tobacco fields, and is surrounded by picturesque views of Pilot Mountain and apple orchards. While the soil is naturally mineral-rich and well-drained, the land was previously conventionally farmed with tobacco, corn and soy, so there have been many challenges to overcome. 

The farm is also home to pastured heritage-breed meat rabbits and a modest dairy goat herd.  While not certified organic, Contrarian Farm does not utilize any synthetic chemicals and employs sustainable practices, such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and the incorporation of livestock manure to continually build up the soil while striving to increase the variety and quantity of produce grown.

Although it is a relatively young farm, Contrarian has quickly built a reputation as an operation that’s not only interested in good farm stewardship practices, but also interested in putting a complete meal on the plate.  The term “contrarian” comes from the financial industry, where it refers to an investor who is distrustful of conventional wisdom. This definition suits the farm well, since, by necessity, it is smaller than most, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for by growing crops and choosing sales outlets that actually feed people, rather than mindlessly following the latest fad.

The foremost operating principle at Contrarian is to provide the highest quality local food for the best prices to people who care about making it a major part of their meals.  Brittany has received consistently excellent feedback from customers on the quality and quantity of the farm’s products.  A bunch of Contrarian turnips or kale provides enough vegetable for it to be an integral part of your meal – a major ingredient, not just a garnish.  In keeping with this principle, Brittany is constantly experimenting with ways to supply staple crops to people year-round from a small, one-woman farm.  This year, available through Papa Spud’s, you can expect to find tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, radishes, arugula, turnips, winter squash, colored bell peppers, swiss chard, rutabagas, beets, collards, kale and cabbages.

If you’re into making local foods a major part of your eating life, you’ve come to the right place.  By navigating to this page, you’ve been introduced to your local grower, harvester, packager and delivery driver all at once.  One person handles your food from its conception to the end of production and it is with great pride that Brittany says, “If you know me, your farmer, you truly know your food.”

 

Herbs, Cilantro
Fox Hollow Farms

Locally-produced: yes
Certified organic: no
Pesticides-free: yes
Conventionally produced: no

Member ratings of this Product by this Producer:
5 out of 5 (1 ratings): May 08-09 (most recent)
4.67 out of 5 (15 ratings): All Time

About Fox Hollow Farms:
Fox Hollow Farms, located in Apex, NC, is run by retired couple Shari Penland and her husband. The farm occupies roughly 20 acres of pastured land, the vast majority of which is kept open for grazing by the cows, chickens, quails, turkeys, and ducks that they keep. Chicken eggs are available from April to October, while quail and duck eggs are only available in the Spring.

In addition to the animals, Shari also keeps an innovative hydroponic garden, that occupies just 1/3 acre. They were inspired to develop the hydroponic system after visiting a similar model in Florida, where one innovative farmer showed that he could produce an equal output of strawberries on 1 acre of hydroponics, as his brother could on 32 acres in ground. The system is built off of the ground in levels, significantly reducing the labor required in day to day maintenance. This, coupled with the controlled watering and fertilization system characteristic to hydroponics, creates a largely self contained garden that the retired couple can maintain without any outside help.
www.fox-hollow-farms.com