Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Name

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Legal name

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Website

https://asapconnections.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG / Carbon & Conservation Program Advisory (AFACAJAF), Supply Chain, Marketing & Contracting Advisory (Grain/Livestock Marketing) (AFACAJAH), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Local food systems
• Farm certification
• Agricultural consulting
• Farmers market operations
• Farm to school

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: ASAP operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 06-1642769), funded primarily through donations and grants from foundations, government agencies, and individuals.
2. Consulting Services: ASAP offers consulting services to organizations, foundations, and public agencies across the country that want to increase support for local food and farms, including fee-based consulting engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ASAP is a nonprofit organization that helps local farms thrive and builds healthy communities by connecting farmers with markets, consumers, schools, healthcare providers, and partner businesses across Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachian region. Its core offerings include the Appalachian Grown certification program (1,300+ farms and partner businesses), the annual Local Food Guide (50,000+ print copies, 1,450+ online listings), the Asheville City Market, the Business of Farming Conference, and the Growing Minds Farm to School Program, complemented by farmer consultations, workshops, cost share grants, food access programs, and consulting services for outside organizations.

Product overview

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) is a nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single unified software product. The core offerings include the Local Food Guide (print and online at appalachiangrown.org), Appalachian Grown certification program, and ASAP-operated Asheville City Market. These are supported by farmer-facing services (Business of Farming Conference, Farmer Consultations, Grower-Buyer Meetings, workshops, cost share programs) and community programs (Farm Tour, CSA support, SNAP incentives, Farm Fresh Produce Prescription, Growing Minds Farm to School). The programs function together to connect local farms with markets and consumers, build healthy communities, and strengthen the regional food economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Appalachian Grown: ASAP's certification program for food and agricultural products grown or raised on farms in Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
• Growing Minds Farm to School Program
• Farm Fresh for Health

Products and services

• Local Food Guide Annual print and searchable online directory of local farms, farmers markets, restaurants, grocers, and businesses in the Appalachian Grown region. The print edition has over 50,000 copies distributed annually; the online guide at appalachiangrown.org includes more than 1,450 listings. Targeted at consumers seeking to find local food and at farms/businesses seeking visibility.
• Appalachian Grown Certification Program

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50,000 Local Food Guide copies distributed annually with over 1,450 online listings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WNC Double SNAP NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership between ASAP, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, and MountainWise formed in 2024 to combine and expand SNAP incentive programs at farmers markets across Western North Carolina. Will expand to additional markets, farm stands, and groceries over three years.
• A-B Tech Small Business CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides counseling, training, and implementation opportunities for entrepreneurs and farmers. Offers free consultations for business planning.
• NC Cooperative ExtensioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCounty and regional Extension professionals provide production expertise and technical assistance for farmers. Area Production Specialized Agent Craig Mauney available for support.
• Ward and Smith, P.A.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm providing one-hour legal consultations to farmers through ASAP referral program. Board member Bill Durr is affiliated with the firm.
• Austin CPAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides up to 10 hours of free CPA services including tax assistance and strategic financial advice to farmers through ASAP referral program.
• MANNA FoodBankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit food bank in WNC working to build community agriculture. Partner for food access initiatives.
• HunterKemper ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitated ASAP's 2025-2026 strategic planning process engaging staff and board.
• Appalachian Regional CommissionminorOthersASAP conducted food and farm consulting projects for the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture: A North Carolina-based nonprofit serving women in agriculture across the High Country and Foothills regions of WNC. Directly comparable because it co-founded the WNC Double SNAP Network with ASAP in 2024 and works on overlapping farmer support and food access programs in the same geography.
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: A NC-based nonprofit advancing organic and sustainable agriculture across the Carolinas. Highly comparable through its farmer support services, farm-to-school work, certification programs, and advocacy role that mirror ASAP's mission and operational model.
• Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming: A NY-based nonprofit advancing regenerative farming and regional food systems in the Hudson Valley. Comparable because it runs farmer training, food access, and food system consulting analogous to ASAP's education, research, and certification offerings.
• Edible Schoolyard Project: A national nonprofit integrating farm-to-school education, school gardens, and cooking curricula. ASAP's Growing Minds Farm to School Program, which serves preschool to high school with lesson plans and field trips, mirrors this farm-to-school focus.
• Wholesome Wave: A national nonprofit that pioneered SNAP doubling and produce prescription programs at farmers markets. ASAP's SNAP incentive and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription follow the same Wholesome Wave model that the organization helped scale nationally.
• Local Food Hub: A Virginia-based regional food hub serving Charlottesville and central Virginia. Comparable because it aggregates and distributes local farm products to schools, hospitals, and retailers, with farm-to-institution channels similar to ASAP's Growing Minds and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription.
• Fair Food Network: A national nonprofit operating Double Up Food Bucks and other SNAP incentive programs. Directly comparable to ASAP's Double SNAP network and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription, both of which subsidize fresh produce purchases for SNAP recipients at farmers markets.
• RAFI-USA (Rural Advancement Foundation International): A Pittsboro, NC-based nonprofit supporting family farms through grants, advocacy, and disaster relief (notably post-Helene). Comparable because it shares ASAP's NC base, farmer advocacy mission, and post-disaster response track record.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: A national nonprofit working on food access, farmers markets, and healthy food retail. Comparable because it operates SNAP incentives, farmers market programs, and food-as-medicine initiatives overlapping with ASAP's food access portfolio.
• Farm Aid: A national nonprofit supporting family farmers through grants, advocacy, and concerts. Comparable at the broader category level as a major farm-support funder, which has also provided direct programmatic support to ASAP's Appalachian Farms Feeding Families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/appgrown
• Facebookfacebook.com/asapconnections
• Instagraminstagram.com/asapconnections
• Xx.com/asapconnections

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project