Excerpts from the report: The North Carolina State Department of Agriculture, the Western North Carolina Development Association, the Land of Sky Regional Council, and food industry representatives requested assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in planning an improved farmers' market and other facilities for a wholesale food distribution center to serve western North Carolina. The need for these facilities was increased by the possibility that the present Lexington Avenue Market might have to relocate in order to improve the highway access to the new civic arena. The Food Distribution Research Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service undertook field work that covered 20 western North Carolina counties in the summer of 1974. The study had the following objectives: ° To analyze the present farmers' markets in Asheville and determine the kind of facilities needed to serve growers in 20 surrounding counties. ° To analyze present wholesale food distribution facilities in the Asheville area and determine what new facilities were needed. ° To develop a plan for new facilities that would meet the immediate needs and provide for future growth. ° To identify possible sites for efficient food marketing in the area. ° To estimate the costs of constructing and operating a new facility development.
