Farmers like Patrick are working together, selling both produce and meats into a CSA and a farmers cooperative.
Better known for its development work overseas, Little Rock based Heifer Project is also working to build rural economies and strengthen communities in the United States. SCALE works with Heifer and numerous local partners in two of those areas: the High Country of western North Carolina and central and eastern Arkansas, including parts of the Arkansas Delta. Since beginning its work with Heifer in 2011, SCALE has provided wide-ranging assistance, including technical assistance to new and limited resource farmers in both regions, construction of hoop houses with local farmers, market development work with Appalachian State University, restaurants and a CSA, and strategic and business planning assistance with Heifer and its community partners. Work is ongoing.
A farmer herself, Anne Rose has launched a custom butcher shop focused on healthy local meats, providing critically needed infrastructure for the High Country's food system.
“In Heifer USA, we’re working to build some very complex value chains in regions of persistent poverty. Anthony has been an amazing resource and thought- and action-partner for the last few years. SCALE is a one stop shop for many different questions, from improving your soil fertility using organic methods to increasing farm profitability; from how to organize diverse farmers into a coordinated production base for larger markets, to building regional wealth-creating value chains. Whether it’s at the planning, implementing or review stages, his experience and practical problem-solving skills have been very helpful many times in both Arkansas and the High Country of Appalachia.”