Tessa Thraves, NC Farm to School Coalition | Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019 –

Students at Lomax Farm with Farmer Joe Rowland

North Carolina has been a leader in farm to school efforts for decades, and we are eager to strengthen this work even more. The Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina is a collective of state agencies and non-profit organizations that are working together to do just that—celebrate all the existing efforts as well as expand and strengthen farm to school efforts across North Carolina. 

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by Jared Cates, CFSA Community Mobilizer | May 27, 2015 – 
Sweet potatoes at CV Pilson Farm in Moore County
Sweet potatoes at CV Pilson Farm in Moore County

The Pilson family farm, known as CV Pilson Farm, has been in Moore County, North Carolina for five generations. Twenty-three-year-old Cliff Pilson followed his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather into farming. Historically a sweet potato and tobacco farm, Cliff is currently working to find new customers for the farm by diversifying his crops and fully transitioning out of tobacco. He takes great pride in selling his produce to public schools in his area and recently took a trip to Washington, DC to advocate for more federal funding for farm to school programs.

Over the years, Cliff’s relatives depended solely on the farm to provide for their families. Chester, Cliff’s father, molded the farm into a true business by finding multiple wholesale markets for their sweet potatoes and, like the three generations before him, he depended on the farm to provide for his family. Cliff’s father has laid the perfect foundation for Cliff to continue the family farming tradition and Cliff is very proud to take the reins and grow their business.

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