Welcome to TRACTOR CSA!
What exactly is TRACTOR?
TRACTOR is a non-profit food hub in Burnsville, NC. Our mission is to promote the Appalachian heritage of small farms and build a vibrant food economy, securing the access of local food for a healthier community. In other words, we help small family farms overcome some of the many obstacles they face and make sure their produce gets to those in the community that desire and need it the most. That is where you come in. By participating in TRACTOR CSA you are helping support more than 30 small family farms in WNC. Beyond that, you are also supporting our feeding programs which connect local families in need with the food our farmers proudly grow. Thank you! We truly hope you will enjoy the fresh fruits, veggies and add-ons this season. This is your introduction to the farmers in our community who we have come to know and love.
Your Safety is Our Top Priority
We are all living in challenging times. We understand that you may be nervous about how your food is handled in a world where COVID-19 is prevalent. TRACTOR takes pride in knowing our farmers, their farms and their practices on a personal level. Each farm is visited and inspected by our Farm Manager, and all products are thoroughly inspected upon arrival. The farmer grows the food and delivers it to our facility where our staff and volunteers pack it. It’s that simple. No packing houses, corporate farms, long-haul trucks, or distribution centers. Our facility is Harmonized GAP certified and follows the strict health and hygiene measures issued by the USDA. We are audited annually.
The NC State Extension, which specializes in food safety has released the following statement: "Neither food or food packaging are considered significant ways of spreading the virus causing COVID-19."With that being said, we want to ensure you that we are taking every precaution we can to keep you safe. Employees and volunteers undergo temperature checks before entering the facility. Masks and gloves are worn at all times when handling food products. Frequent hand washing and sanitation are also conducted. Returned CSA will be isolated for 2 weeks and then sanitized before reuse.
Free Online Cooking Class
TRACTOR works closely with Cooperative Extension. Jessica Zucchino, the Yancey County EFNEP Coordinator is offering free online cooking classes this summer. If this sounds like something you might be interested in simply join the Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/734557300415330/ or email Jessica at jessica.zucchino@ncsu.edu for more information.
Please Return Your Bag Each Week
By reusing the red bags each week, we are able to keep costs low and reduce waste. Please do your part and return your bag each week!
Any Questions or concerns?
Feel free to let any of the TRACTOR staff know and we will do our best to help you!
