As County Extension Director (CED) and Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent serving the Surry County Cooperative Extension Center, Joanna Radford makes a meaningful difference every day. In her role as director, she provides leadership and administrative oversight to ensure Extension programs address the educational needs of local residents. As the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent, she delivers research-based education and technical assistance to commercial producers, homeowners, green industry professionals, and community organizations. She works closely with commercial fruit and vegetable growers, nursery operators, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGV), beekeepers, and farmers markets and tackles topics ranging from local foods and food safety to consumer questions about landscapes, lawns, and pest management. Joanna is passionate about problem-solving, team development, and community education, and finds her role incredibly fulfilling. “Seeing individuals and organizations grow because of the knowledge and resources Extension provides is the greatest reward of this profession,” Joanna shared.

Surry County’s local food landscape blends deep Appalachian traditions with an evolving consumer demand for locally produced food. The area thrives on a mix of direct-market farms, farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), wineries, orchards, specialty crop producers, value-added food businesses, and agritourism operations, providing unique opportunities and challenges for producers and Extension. Instead of relying on a single dominant commodity, local farmers produce a vibrant harvest ranging from berries and orchard fruits to fresh meats, honey, and nursery crops. Nestled within the Yadkin Valley wine region, the county has become one of the state’s premier wine-producing destinations, significantly boosting the local economy and creating strong opportunities for agritourism and value-added agriculture.

Yet sustaining a thriving food system comes with modern challenges. Generational family farms and new growers entering the farming community have to navigate the complexities of expanding revenue streams and varying operations to ensure long-term financial stability. Local producers are also navigating labor shortages, rising costs, increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, stricter regulations, and succession planning for an aging farming population averaging 60 years old.

Joanna helps navigate these challenges by connecting producers with available resources, grant opportunities, technical assistance, and marketing strategies to expand into new enterprises like agritourism or value-added ventures. Pairing this with consumer education on seasonal eating, home food production, pollinator conservation, and the economic value of supporting local agriculture, she works to foster and strengthen their thriving local food system. As Joanna notes, “these efforts strengthen the connection between consumers and producers while building long term support for the local food system.”

Joanna and her team have spearheaded numerous successful initiatives, including Farm City, Ag Adventures Day, Speedway to Healthy, Donation Stations, home gardening workshops, and commercial fruit and vegetable production meetings. They also provide vital food safety training, EMGV certification, and maintain county-wide seed libraries. One particularly unique program is Surry County’s Junior Beekeeping Program, established over five years ago to inspire the next generation of beekeepers. Youth ages 5 to 15 receive 12 hours of training followed by a practical exam. Upon passing, they receive a certificate from the Surry County Beekeepers Association, designating them as Certified Junior Beekeepers.

Looking to the future, Joanna sees a promising yet evolving landscape for local foods in North Carolina. While consumer demand remains strong, producers face mounting pressures to adapt. To navigate these changes, she emphasizes that continued, robust support from Cooperative Extension, local governments, and community partners will be more critical than ever. Through dedication, education, and collaborative support, Joanna isn’t just helping the agricultural community adapt to today’s challenges, she is actively cultivating the leaders, growers, and informed consumers of tomorrow. With a deep respect for tradition and a clear vision for innovation, she ensures the local food landscape will remain vibrant and connected for generations to come.