Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

What Carolina Farm Stewardship Association does

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 in Pittsboro, NC, operating as the Southeast's oldest farmer-driven sustainable agriculture organization. It serves small and mid-scale organic and sustainable farmers across North and South Carolina through a unified suite of free technical assistance programs covering conservation planning, organic production and certification, farm food safety, high tunnel production, market access, and climate resilience. The organization finances these services primarily through USDA federal grants (including NRCS Technical Service Provider fees, Transition to Organic Partnership Program funding, and the Advancing Markets for Producers program), individual and corporate donations, $40/year farmer memberships, and signature events such as the Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Piedmont Farm Tour, and Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference. CFSA extends its regional footprint through the Elma C. Lomax Research & Education Farm in Concord, NC, which supports applied research and a Farmers-in-Training pipeline, and through the FarmsSHARE program that sources produce from 300+ member farms via 18 food hubs and distributes to 200+ community partner organizations serving food-insecure households. The organization also operates a policy and advocacy function (Policy Director, NC Policy Specialist, Member Advocacy Program) and historically incubated independent ventures such as Eastern Carolina Organics (now Happy Dirt) and Common Ground, demonstrating an institutional capacity for spinning out commercial entities that address gaps in the regional food system.

Name

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

Legal name

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

Website

https://carolinafarmstewards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that provides free technical assistance, advocacy, and education to small and mid-scale sustainable and organic farmers across North and South Carolina, funded by USDA grants, donations, $40/year memberships, and signature annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Agriculture Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture services
• Organic farming assistance
• Farm technical assistance
• Conservation planning services
• Agricultural nonprofit support

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Farmers pay $40/year membership fee to access free technical assistance programs, resources, and member benefits.
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations support organizational operations and programs including FarmsSHARE produce donation initiative.
3. Grants: Federal grants from USDA NRCS, NIFA, and other agricultural programs fund conservation planning, organic transition programs, and disaster recovery initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CFSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free technical assistance programs to sustainable and organic farmers in North and South Carolina, covering conservation planning, USDA organic certification, farm food safety (GAP), high tunnel production, market access, and climate resilience/disaster recovery. Membership is $40/year (waivable) and unlocks all programs, alongside signature events (Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Piedmont Farm Tour, Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference) and the FarmsSHARE program that connects 300+ member farms via 18 food hubs to 200+ community partners serving food-insecure households.

Product overview

CFSA operates as a farmer-driven nonprofit offering a unified suite of technical assistance programs for sustainable and organic agriculture. The core offerings include Conservation Planning, Organic Production & Certification, Farm Food Safety, High Tunnel Production, Market Access, and Climate Resilience programs. Supporting services include the FarmsSHARE food access program, Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship, and the Elma C. Lomax Research & Education Farm for applied research and farmer training. CFSA also organizes three signature events: the Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Piedmont Farm Tour, and Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference. All programs are included with membership and provided free of charge to member farmers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Planning Technical Assistance Program Free one-on-one whole-farm stewardship planning for member farmers covering soil erosion, water quality, plant/animal health, and energy concerns, with support for NRCS EQIP funding applications; delivered as a USDA NRCS Technical Service Provider service.
• Organic Production & Certification Technical Assistance Direct technical assistance for member farmers implementing organic practices, transitioning to organic, and pursuing USDA Organic certification, including Organic System Plan development.
• Farm Food Safety Program Food safety technical assistance for member farmers including food safety plan design, on-farm risk assessments, and GAP certification preparation, including training through the Produce Safety Alliance.
• High Tunnel Production Technical Assistance Free one-on-one technical assistance for member farmers on high tunnel site selection, installation, crop planning, and troubleshooting for season extension and specialty crop production.
• Market Access Technical Assistance Advisory services for member farmers on market channel selection, business planning, financial planning, farm efficiency audits, and online marketing strategies.
• Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) USDA-funded program providing financial and technical assistance for farm viability, conservation practices, and market development including business planning and equipment, administered in partnership with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.
• Climate Resilience & Disaster Recovery Program Technical assistance for member farmers affected by climate disasters including Hurricane Helene, using the Regenerative Resilience Plan framework to support farm recovery and long-term resilience.
• Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program
• FarmsSHARE Program Produce box program providing locally-grown produce and protein sourced from 300+ small sustainable farms (via 18 food hubs) to households experiencing food insecurity, distributed through 200+ community partner organizations across the Carolinas.
• Piedmont Farm Tour Annual self-guided farm tour featuring 30 farms across 5 counties in North Carolina, allowing visitors to experience local sustainable farming operations firsthand.
• Sustainable Agriculture Conference Annual flagship conference providing education, networking, and member engagement for farmers and food systems stakeholders focused on local and organic food and farming across the Carolinas.
• Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference Annual conference held in collaboration with NC State University focusing on organic commodities and livestock production, providing education and networking for organic producers.
• Elma C. Lomax Research & Education Farm Research and education farm in Concord, NC providing land access, applied organic research, hands-on education, volunteer opportunities, produce donations to community organizations, and a Farmers-in-Training program for aspiring organic farmers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,311 farmers served since 2012, impacting 200,000+ acres
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA partners with NRCS as a Technical Service Provider (TSP) for conservation planning. Staff write conservation plans funded by NRCS EQIP program, helping farmers access federal conservation funding. CFSA offers cash rebates to producers who select them as TSP.
• Pasa Sustainable AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA partners with Pasa to administer the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program, which provides financial and technical assistance to sustainable farms for business development, marketing, and conservation practices.
• Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA partners with CEFS to advance food council coalition-building through Community Food Strategies initiative and co-produces resources like the On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit.
• NC State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA collaborates with NC State University on the Organic Commodities & Livestock Conference and various research initiatives, including organic no-till projects.
• USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA manages the TOPP farmer-to-farmer mentorship program for NC and SC, connecting experienced organic producers with those transitioning to organic. Program provides technical assistance including Organic Systems Plans and Conservation Activity Plans.
• Food Hubs (18 across Carolinas)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor18 food hubs partner with CFSA through the FarmsSHARE program to aggregate and distribute locally-grown produce to communities in need across North and South Carolina.
• 200+ Community Partner OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 200 community organizations partner with CFSA through FarmsSHARE to distribute locally-grown produce to food-insecure households, strengthening regional food security.
• Clemson Cooperative Extension ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA works with Clemson on the 2025 Organic Programmatic Gap Analysis and coordinates on organic transition support in South Carolina.
• Local Food Safety CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA partnered with Local Food Safety Collaborative to develop the Interactive FSMA Guide for local food businesses and farms.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pasa Sustainable Agriculture: Pasa is a PA-based sustainable agriculture nonprofit that — like CFSA — provides farmer technical assistance, runs an annual conference, and partners with CFSA to co-administer USDA's AMP program. Direct operational peer with comparable membership, education, and advocacy model.
• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA): MOFGA is the oldest and largest state-level organic agriculture organization in the US, providing technical assistance, organic certification, an annual fair, and education to Maine farmers. Closest direct functional peer to CFSA at the state/regional level.
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP): ASAP operates in Western North Carolina with a similar mission of supporting local food systems and sustainable farms, including farm tours, business support, and local food branding. Geographic and programmatic peer to CFSA.
• Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG): SSAWG is a regional sustainable agriculture coalition across 13 Southern states, providing training, conferences, and resources to sustainable farmers. Overlapping geographic focus and conference-driven GTM model.
• Rodale Institute: Rodale Institute is a national organic agriculture research and education nonprofit operating a research farm (like CFSA's Lomax Farm) and providing farmer training, research, and consumer education. Mission-aligned peer with comparable research farm and education programs.
• Organic Farmers Association: OFA is a national membership organization for certified organic farmers that provides advocacy, education, and policy representation. Comparable farmer-membership model and policy advocacy focus, though national in scope.

Regional players

• Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS): CEFS is a NC State University-based partnership that advances sustainable food systems and already co-leads programs with CFSA (Community Food Strategies, On-Farm Infrastructure Toolkit). Operates as a research and coalition-building partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Carolina Sustainable Business Alliance: Regional sustainability-focused business alliance serving North and South Carolina, with adjacent sustainability and local-foods mission. Geographic peer operating in same Carolinas footprint but focused on broader business sustainability rather than agriculture.

Broad incumbents

• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC): NSAC is a national policy advocacy coalition that, like CFSA, advocates for federal sustainable agriculture policy. Operates at federal policy level, with CFSA often feeding state-level perspectives. Broader in scope but overlapping policy mission.

Emerging players

• FoodCorps: FoodCorps places service members in schools to connect children with healthy food, focusing on food systems education. Adjacent food-systems nonprofit with a different target beneficiary (children/schools vs. farmers) but overlapping donor/funder landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carolinafarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/carolinafarmstewards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-farm-stewardship-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carolina Farm Stewardship Association