Celebrating National Farmers Market Week | August 2–8

As communities across the country celebrate National Farmers Market Week, the National Association of RC&D Councils is proud to recognize Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council for its outstanding commitment to strengthening local food systems throughout Northeast Tennessee.

Through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and hands-on education, Appalachian RC&D is helping create healthier communities while supporting local farmers, improving access to nutritious food, and fostering a more resilient agricultural economy. Their work is a shining example of RC&D Feeds in action—bringing together producers, consumers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to strengthen the entire local food system.

Growing More Than Crops

Appalachian RC&D believes that thriving communities begin with thriving farms. Their work extends well beyond the farmers market, supporting producers from the earliest stages of business development to long-term conservation and sustainability.

Through programs that connect farmers with consumers, provide technical education, and encourage conservation-minded agriculture, the Council is helping ensure that local farms remain productive and profitable for generations to come.

Their website highlights a wide range of initiatives focused on strengthening regional agriculture, including:

Farmers market development and promotion
Farmacy Fit healthy food access initiatives
Summer Field School
Beginning farmer education
On-farm workshops and demonstrations
Rotational grazing education
Soil health and regenerative agriculture
Medicinal herb production
Disaster preparedness for farms
Farm business and marketing education
Local food systems development
Community gardening and backyard food production

Each program reflects Appalachian RC&D's commitment to connecting people with the land while creating economic opportunities for local producers.

Farmacy Fit: Where Health Meets Agriculture

One of Appalachian RC&D's signature initiatives is Farmacy Fit, an award-winning program that combines physical activity, healthy eating, and support for local agriculture.

Participants begin by visiting a participating farmers market where they check in and complete a designated walking route—or an accessible chair exercise option. In return, they receive market tokens that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables directly from local vendors.

The result is a program that benefits everyone involved. Families gain access to healthy, locally grown food while farmers receive additional customers and increased sales. The initiative also encourages active lifestyles, supports local economies, and creates stronger connections between communities and the farmers who feed them.

Originally launched as a pilot at the Johnson City and Jonesborough Farmers Markets, Farmacy Fit has expanded throughout the region and earned statewide recognition, including being named an "Eat Smarter" Initiative of the Year by the Governor's Foundation for Health and Wellness.

Educating the Next Generation of Farmers

Education is another cornerstone of Appalachian RC&D's mission.

Through its annual Summer Field School, the Council offers immersive learning experiences designed for beginning farmers, experienced producers, landowners, educators, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture.

Participants visit working farms throughout the region to learn directly from producers and agricultural professionals. Recent sessions have explored topics including:

Soil health and regenerative farming
Rotational grazing systems
Pasture management
Medicinal herb production
Specialty crops
Farm diversification
Disaster preparedness
Conservation practices
Direct marketing and niche markets

Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction, Field School participants experience real-world farming operations while building relationships with fellow producers and conservation partners.

Learning Happens in the Field

In addition to Field School, Appalachian RC&D hosts specialty workshops throughout the year that bring practical agricultural education directly to producers.

One example is the Council's Rotational Grazing Workshop, where participants learn fencing strategies, pasture management, grazing systems, and livestock management practices that improve both productivity and natural resource stewardship.

These workshops give producers practical tools they can immediately implement while encouraging peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.

Strengthening Local Food Systems

Appalachian RC&D understands that food security depends upon much more than simply growing food.

Strong local food systems require partnerships between farmers, healthcare providers, schools, markets, businesses, and consumers.

Whether helping a beginning farmer launch a new enterprise, promoting local farmers markets, supporting backyard gardeners, connecting producers with restaurants and distributors, or improving access to fresh produce through innovative health initiatives, the Council is working every day to strengthen every link in the local food chain.

Their work demonstrates that conservation, agriculture, economic development, and public health are all connected—and that lasting solutions happen when communities work together.

RC&D Feeds in Action

The RC&D network has always believed that local solutions create lasting change.

Appalachian RC&D exemplifies that philosophy by investing in farmers, educating communities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and building partnerships that make locally grown food more accessible to everyone.

As we celebrate National Farmers Market Week, we applaud Appalachian RC&D for demonstrating what RC&D Feeds is all about:

Supporting farmers.

Strengthening communities.

Expanding access to healthy food.

Protecting working lands.

Growing local economies.

Because when RC&D feeds communities, everyone thrives.