The growing season has arrived in Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachians!

Finding seasonal local farm products at farmers tailgate markets is certainly a sign of spring along with local food at restaurants and roadside stands. It is also the time of year to pick up the latest edition of ASAP’s Local Food Guide to find the best sources for Appalachian Grown™ food.

“The community asks for local food, and ASAP’s Local Food Guide is the best way to find it,” says Molly Nicholie, ASAP’s Local Food Campaign Director. “In the guide, you can find hundreds of local family farms, farmers tailgate markets, restaurants, grocers, artisan foods, lodging, and travel destinations featuring an astounding variety of local products.” ASAP renews and collects data each year so that the best, current information is available for consumers.

This year’s Local Food Guide offers stories of people making positive changes in the food system including parents and children cooking seasonally and adding the farmers tailgate market to their routines, farmers developing networks to meet increasing demand for local products, and more. Other features include area restaurants building community connections through local food, and details about ASAP’s programs such as the Growing Minds Farm to School Program and the Local Food Research Center.

Print copies will be distributed to locations in every county in Western North Carolina and other partners in the Southern Appalachians. A full list of distribution points can be found at asapconnections.org. Search by product or location at ASAP’s online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org. The 2016 Local Food Guide can always be picked up at ASAP’s office: 306 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more about ASAP’s work in the region, visit asapconnections.org, or call (828) 236-1282.