For Immediate Release
OAK ISLAND, NC, January 21, 2020 – People-First Tourism, Inc. in conjunction with NC State University’s Fork to Farmer project released research from its 2019 Vacationer Supported Agriculture (“VSA”) program for Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties in southeastern North Carolina.
In just its 2nd year of the program, VSA has certainly achieved its goal of “bridging the divide between rural and urban areas by promoting equitable development through contentious tourism, and sustainable agriculture practices.”
2019 VSA Achievements include:
- Over $55K in local farmer revenue for Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
- 850% increase in revenue from the 2018 pilot program.
Of significant note, Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc. was awarded an honorable mention as a first-time participant in the program for its “commitment to equitable and sustainable growth, and for innovative practices in guest produce pick-up”.
The VSA program, or “Vacation Vittles” as it is locally called, allowed vacationing guests of the agency to pre-purchase produce bags containing everything from summer squash, zucchini, blueberries, watermelon, a variety of tomatoes, sweet corn, herbs, cucumbers, green beans, okra, peaches, grapes, a variety of peppers and a variety of lettuces and radishes.
All picked at the peak of freshness by area farmers, the bags provided enough produce to feed a family of 4 with at least 3 servings of fruits and vegetables during a week-long stay on Oak Island. To make the process even more convenient for Margaret Rudd & Associates’ guests, the bags could be picked up during the normal Saturday arrival process each week during the summer.
For the 2020 Vacation Vittles program, People First plans to improve produce packaging for better transport and greater quantities of produce in each bag. As a long-time supporter of the local economy and area farmers, Margaret Rudd & Associates looks forward to providing this valuable service to our vacationing guests for years to come. For more information on the 2020 Vacation Vittles program and how our renting guests may take advantage of this service, stay tuned to the Oak Island Blog area of our website or follow Oak Island Beaches by Rudd on Facebook.
Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS (“MRA”) is a second-generation, family-run business offering a full range of real estate services including sales, property management, vacation rentals, development, land sales, commercial properties, relocation services and long term rentals. With a reputation for exceptional customer service and dedication to strong professional ethics and integrity, MRA is the most respected full-service firm in Brunswick County with 3 offices to service your property management and real estate needs.
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For more information contact Jessica Fuller, Digital Content & Marketing Specialist at jfuller@rudd.com, (800) 486-5441.
Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS
210 Country Club Drive, Oak Island, NC 28465
www.rudd.com