ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is a nonprofit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina, serving the Southern Appalachian region. Their mission is to help local farms thrive, connect farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. ASAP has three primary program areas: The Local Food Campaign drives public demand for local farm products, builds farmer capacity to access market opportunities, and creates connections within the food system.

Their Local Food Campaign programs include the Local Food Guide, Appalachian Grown program, Asheville City Market, support for farmers' markets, ASAP's Farm Tour, and the Business of Farming Conference. The Growing Minds Farm to School Program provides training and resources to educators, health and wellness professionals, and others to promote positive local food and farm experiences for children, farms, and communities. The Local Food Research Center studies and communicates the impacts of localizing food systems.

ASAP envisions a future where local food becomes the default choice. They strive for strong farms, thriving local food economies, and healthy communities where farming is valued as central to our heritage and future. Their goal is to build a food system that supports local wealth, strengthens communities, supports health and wellness, and sustains the environment.

They aim for a food system that allows everyone involved in growing and producing food to earn a living and afford the food they grow, process, or serve. They also emphasize the importance of educating children about food through their parents, teachers, and local farms, rather than relying on advertisers. To achieve their vision, ASAP is committed to fostering a culture of learning and unlearning to dismantle policies, practices, and norms that perpetuate oppression and injustice within local food systems.

They strive to center and celebrate the voices, experiences, and contributions of marginalized groups in local food movement building. They are dedicated to creating accessible, diverse, and inclusive local food experiences and building community connections rooted in respect and mutuality. They actively engage in challenging conversations and co-create transformative and community-driven solutions.

ASAP is transparent in their commitment and efforts to center equity in their work, welcoming accountability from their collaborators and community members. ASAP has been a leader in the local food movement for over two decades, playing a vital role in connecting local agriculture, economic development, and health. They officially incorporated as a nonprofit in 2002, but their effort to promote local food and farms began even earlier.

Their Local Food Campaign, launched in 2000, aimed to raise awareness about local agriculture, educate consumers about the benefits of buying local food, and create viable market alternatives for local farmers. Over the years, ASAP has made significant progress in the region's local food economy. What initially started with fresh produce has now expanded to include a diverse range of foods such as locally raised meats, artisan cheeses, eggs, honey, mushrooms, herbs, artisan beverages (wine, beer, cider, soda), and value-added products.

The region's restaurant scene has also flourished, attracting visitors and residents and providing new market outlets for farmers. Through these efforts, farming in the region has become more resilient and sustainable, benefiting both farmers and consumers. ASAP is committed to their mission of supporting local farms, strengthening the local food economy, and building healthy communities.

Through their various programs and initiatives, they strive to create a future where local food is the default choice, benefiting not only individuals but also the environment and local economy. Sign up for their newsletters to stay up to date with their latest news and initiatives