In response to market shifts during COVID-19 and the recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, local farmers turned to roadside stands to sell fresh produce directly to their communities. To support this shift, the workgroup partnered with Empowering Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) and Carol Coulter, Adjunct Instructor in The Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Department at Appalachian State University, to develop, design, and disseminate a new resource: “So, Do You Want to Start a Farm Stand?” (linked below).
*New Resource* So, Do You Want to Start a Farm Stand?
(Updated: Sept. 10, 2026, 1:56 p.m.)
Left - Farm stand at Springhouse Farm before Hurricane Helene. Right - the newly built farm stand at Springhouse Farm.
This resource highlights roadside farm stands as a high-impact, direct-to-consumer model for small- to mid-scale agricultural producers. Designed to equip farmers with practical strategies for market expansion, the resource covers important factors including:
- Functional farm stand design concepts
- Required permits and certifications
- Payment processing logistics and security measures
Download the resource pdf here. You can also access the resource on the "Farmer Selling Locally" page of the Local Food website.
