The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $805,874 to Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project on March 1, 2026, under the Regional Food System Partnerships Program (CFDA 10.177). The award supports the organization's goals of cultivating a local food system economy through collaborative partnerships, increasing product diversity and value-added foods, and creating local food access and agricultural economic opportunities in North Carolina. The period of performance runs through February 28, 2029. Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, a non-profit focused on promoting local food and supporting local farms in the Southern Appalachian region, will deliver technical assistance, training, outreach, and financial incentives to increase access to and consumption of locally grown produce. The organization's prior work under USDA programs includes SNAP double incentive models, produce prescription programs, direct marketing assistance for farmers, and farm-to-school programming.