Mitchell County Transportation Earns Pair of NCPTA Honors

Hub’s revenues increased by 6.71 times from Jan-Feb to April-May, 2020.

Since then, the Hub and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture have worked to establish additional ways to make shopping for local food even more accessible by adding convenient pickup locations throughout the region, expanding its Double Up Food Bucks program, and partnering with food pantries to provide free healthy food boxes to neighbors. This has had real impacts on area growers.

“The Food Hub’s growth has helped us maintain revenue streams and cash flow during traditionally slower times of the year for farm goods,” said James Wilkes from Faith Mountain Farms. “We look forward to continued growth as the public continues to shift a portion of their weekly consumption to local products.”

None of the Hub’s success could have been possible without support from Watauga County government, Watauga County Cooperative Extension, the Town of Boone, Heifer USA, Carolina Farm Credit, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Watauga County Economic Development Commission, Resourceful Communities, Appalachian State University’s Catering Services, Dr. Pepper of West Jefferson, and the Golden LEAF Foundation as well as over 100 local food producers and 4750 consumers and partnerships with F.A.R.M. Cafe, Hunger & Health Coalition, Casting Bread Ministries, AppHealthCare, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Watauga Food Council, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

“We all want and need our local farms to do well. Supporting them through the Food Hub is one way to help them succeed,” said customers Kathy and Wade Reece. “The Food Hub unites local growers and makers with the public, giving us an awesome opportunity to experience high quality, super fresh, handmade, and organic foods every week.”

The High Country Food Hub is expanding its reach and customers can pick up their orders in Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Vilas/Zionville, West Jefferson, and Boone.

To learn more about the High Country Food Hub, please visit Facebook @HighCountryFoodHub, Instagram @highcountryfoodhub, or www.highcountryfoodhub.org/.

Article by Watauga Democrat.

Mitchell County Transportation is standing out among its peers in the state.

MCT recently earned a pair of awards via the North Carolina Public Transportation Association— a safety award and the honor of Transit System of the Year.

MCT recently introduced a new route in Spruce Pine. Dubbed “The Pine Line,” MCT Director Sheila Blalock said the route has exploded in popularity, adding that 692 riders utilized it in March.

MCT has operated the new route in addition to its usual offerings with zero accidents over the past year, thus earning the NCPTA safety award.

Mitchell County Transportation Director Sheila Blalock stands with Mitchell County Board of Commissioners Chair Steve Pitman and receives a plaque from the NCPTA. (Submitted) 7