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As we approach the holiday, it’s a good time to think about where that turkey, pork, or beef comes from that will round out your celebratory meals. We are fortunate to live in North Carolina, where good soils, climate, and plentiful water have allowed livestock farmers to thrive for hundreds of years. Farming is tradition here, but has continued to change with our food systems and markets.
Currently in the U.S., over 95% of our meat comes from factory farms. It hasn’t always been this way. Small family farms of the past were much more diverse, often growing their own vegetables as well as raising cows, pigs, and chickens for their own needs and to supply the local markets. The money earned by local farmers stays in the local economy. They are involved in and invest in the local communities.
These farmers also know that taking care of the land and water will ensure the survival of their farms. They use best management practices like fencing livestock out of streams, maintaining vegetative buffers, rotational grazing, and following a waste management plan to manage, recycle and utilize manure and nutrients effectively. These practices make happier, healthier animals, and protect our environment. As one local farmer, Colfax Creek Farm, puts it, “The goals of creating a better food system, regenerating the land and soils that we farm, and reviving rural communities around us all drive us to always become better farmers and stewards of our lands and animals.”
We are seeing a revival of small sustainable farms, and these farms deserve our support. Most local grocery stores do not carry local meat products, unfortunately. Luckily, we have farmers markets, and often the farmers sell directly from the farms. It is a great opportunity to visit a farm and get to know the people who feed us.
Neuse River watershed
Rainbow Meadow Farm
1065 Lloyd Harrison Road, Snow Hill, NC
(252) 747-5000
Ninja Cow Farm
7125 Old Stage Road, Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 810-2530
Minka Farm
120 Minka Farm Lane, Efland, NC
(919) 304-4999
farmer@minkafarm.com
Prodigal Farms
4720 Bahama Road, Rougemont, NC 27572
(919) 477-5653
Brinkley Farms
4233 Old Weaver Trail, Creedmoor, NC 27522
Dawnbreaker Farms
3200 Breeze Road, Hurdle Mills, NC 27541
(919) 903-0200
ben@dawnbreakerfarms.com
McAdams Farm
1100 Efland Cedar Grove Road, Efland, NC 27243
(919) 309-5935
callie.mcadams99@gmail.com
Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farms
465 Yarbrough Road, Roxboro, NC 27574
(336) 599-1297
info@sunsetridgebuffalo.com
Coon Rock Farm
1021 Dimmocks Mill Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-4168
Nooherooka Natural
2029 Mewborn Church Road, Snow Hill, NC 28580
(252) 747-5054
Farm on Grape Creek
323 Trenton Road, Cove City, NC 28523
252-814-4405
Tar-Pamlico watershed
MAE Farm
FARM: 57 Mitchell Church Way, Louisburg, NC 27549
STORE:1209 Farmers Market Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
(252) 204-6900
Ray Family Farms
6913 Pearces Road, Louisburg, NC
(919) 422-1372
Renston Homestead and Strawberries on 903
4064 N.C. Highway 903 South, Winterville, NC 28590
252-321-3204
info@strawberrieson903.com
Lucky 3 Farm
384 Greys Mill Road, Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 853-6304
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