by TM Petaccia

After a three-year hiatus, Piedmont Culinary Guild has resumed its farm grant program for small farmers throughout the Carolinas. The grants can be used to enhance farm infrastructure, increase productivity, contribute to the regional food terroir, or otherwise increase the overall availability of locally grown food.

PCG launched its farm grant program in 2019 as part of its Food & Beverage Symposium and offered it again in 2020. The pandemic and related shutdowns suspended the program until this year.

2019 PCG Farm Grant winners William Lyonsm Bluebird Farm and Jamie Swofford, Old North Farm. TM Petaccia/UP

Past recipients include Sara Jane Davis – A Way of Life Farm, William Lyons – Bluebird Farm, Lee Menius – Wild Turkey Farm, and Jamie Swofford – Old North Farm.

A total of $15,000 will be awarded to five farms, each receiving $3,000.

“We are super excited to continue the work of the Piedmont Culinary Guild, which includes support for smaller farmers and makers,” says PCG Co-chair Chris Coleman. “The decision to offer five smaller grants, as opposed to one or two larger grants, was made by the Board as a way to invest in more businesses that we think are doing great work.”

To qualify for the grant, applicants must operate a farm in North or South Carolina, be able to contribute a minimum of $300 toward their proposed projects, and as well as meet a number of other criteria. Click here to read the full application.

A member of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension will be selecting the winners.

Applicants must also be either a Professional or Business Member of Piedmont Culinary Guild at the time of the award. They must also be available to personally receive the award at the organization’s Homegrown Tomato Festival, July 16 at CPCC.