From Farm Tent to Table
Versatile Canopy Tents Help One Nonprofit Restore Local Food Systems
When you consider the fact that the United States is one of the world’s richest countries, you might be surprised to learn that food insecurity is still a massive problem across the nation. North Carolina is no exception. Within the state alone, 590,000 households don’t have enough food to eat each day. In Mecklenburg County, which encompasses the state’s largest city of Charlotte, 22 percent of children experience food insecurity.
For Carolina Farm Trust, these numbers are more than statistics; they’re its reason for existence. The organization works to strengthen local food systems in the Carolinas, from production to consumption. It seeks to increase the availability of healthy food, create economic opportunity in agriculture, strengthen food security, reduce food-related environmental harm, and empower the local community.
Of course, when addressing something as complex as local food insecurity, there’s no silver bullet. Progress requires many efforts taken together, exactly what Carolina Farm Trust facilitates. From its urban farm and community events to partnerships with farmers and fellow nonprofits, Carolina Farm Trust tackles the problem from all ends.
An 'Equal Vison' Partner
An ‘Equal Vision’ Partner
When it comes to community coalitions, Carolina Farm Trust President and CEO Zack Wyatt says he looks for “equal vision” partners who operate with the same values. Mastertent is proud to be one of them. Since 2021, we’ve joined forces for a shared passion for sustainability.
Like at Carolina Farm Trust, sustainability is a mindset at Mastertent. Through solar-powered production, our reforestation program, creative upcycling of scrap production materials, and sustainable textile innovation, we’re continually pushing ourselves to become even more environmentally friendly.
At the heart of our sustainability efforts is a commitment to quality. When customers opt for lasting tents with replaceable parts over cheaper alternatives, they’re choosing less waste. Our commitment to encouraging quality versus over-consumption is one reason Wyatt said his organization was excited to partner with Mastertent.
For Rain or Shine
In the past, the Carolina Farm Trust team used other tents that ripped easily and faded quickly. Now, our 100% waterproof tents provide reliable shelter from bad weather and protect the team from sunburn. One member called their pop-up canopy tent a “lifesaver.”
Whether for a market day or a fundraiser, on a farm or a city street, their tent easily adapts to wherever the organization needs it. Mastertent empowers Carolina Farm Trust to pursue many initiatives with the same versatile equipment.
Market-Ready in Minutes
Increasing access to culturally relevant, fresh, and healthy food is a key tenet of Carolina Farm Trust’s mission. The organization does this in part through its urban farm network. By spearheading the creation of farming collectives in urban spaces, Carolina Farm Trust improves access to local produce.
For example, its Urban Farm at Aldersgate project serves residents at the Aldersgate Retirement Village and those in the surrounding Eastside Charlotte neighborhoods. Carolina Farm Trust sets up its Mastertent for a farm market several times each week. The stand sells seasonal produce and farm products, like meat and eggs from nearby farms, and accepts SNAP and EBT, making it a resource for everyone.
Whether they’re hosting a cooking demonstration or a pop-up market, Carolina Farm Trust is ready for anything. Their Mastertent can be assembled practically anywhere easily—no crews or special tools required.
“Any staff member can pop it up like it’s nothing,” one Carolina Farm Trust team member said of the tent.
This flexibility is critical to an organization trying to fight a food access problem. Having the freedom to go wherever the need is makes all the difference. It allows the organization to connect real people to real food.
Tasteful Branding to Spread Awareness
Another way Carolina Farm Trust strengthens local food systems is by hosting and participating in community events. It organizes community dinners, which bring together neighbors, farmers, and chefs around tables to draw attention to its important work.
The Dinner on West Broad St. event, for example, gathered 130 people for a sunset meal at long table tables stretching down a prominent downtown street in Statesville, N.C. The event spotlighted local produce and chefs, all in an effort to spark conversation around regenerative farming.
At events like these, Wyatt’s focus is to make the experience, rather than Carolina Farm Trust, the focal point. A beautifully branded tent aids in this approach. Their custom-printed canopy tent prominently features the organization’s logo, which supports brand recognition and fundraising efforts. Still, the tent’s sleek professionalism lets the important issues that Carolina Farm Trust addresses take center stage.
Flexible Accessories for Freedom to Pursue Partnerships
For Carolina Farm Trust, that means freedom to say “yes” to community partnerships with like-minded organizations. One such example was when it teamed up with the Charlotte-based children’s literacy nonprofit Protectors of the Endangered to host a summer camp.
The camp featured food scavenger hunts and engaged kids in lessons on the role of bees in local food systems. The kids even learned about healthy food hands-on by making their own fruit pizzas.
Mastertent equipment made it easy for the organizations to seamlessly co-brand the whole event. Tear-drop flags printed with images of Protectors of the Endangered Characters provided a beautiful and fun backdrop for the camp, while a tent featuring the Carolina Farm Trust logo offered kids shade and shelter in the summer heat.
A Welcoming Space to Facilitate Connection
Once a year, Carolina Farm Trust pulls out all the stops for its biggest fundraising event—Carolina Jubilee. This outdoor music festival features two days of local singers and bands. Reflecting Carolina Farm Trust’s commitment to equality, the lineup intentionally highlights musicians from the LGBTQ+ community as well as Black artists from blues and other music genres.
The festivities kick off with the Urban Soul on the Farm dinner. Like the music festival, this event supports Carolina Farm Trust’s mission to invest in shared community food systems for the benefit of urban and rural communities. A joyful, delicious farm-to-table meal, Urban Soul on the Farm features dishes that the different ethnicities of our chefs. Communal tables and canopy tents draw people together from many different backgrounds.
All weekend long, numerous Mastertents offer gathering places for both logistics—like check-in and first aid locations—and comfort. Large event tents provide both shelter from the sun or rain and a relaxing place to enjoy time and music together. It’s a time when Carolina Farm Trust’s goal of an “empowered community” feels less like a dream and more like a reality beginning to take shape.
Carolina Jubilee and all of Carolina Farm Trust’s initiatives are proof that we can accomplish even more good when we connect and collaborate. At Mastertent, we’re proud to support the work of Carolina Farm Trust as a sponsor. Together, we’re working toward a healthier planet and a brighter future.
To learn more about Carolina Farm Trust or to get involved, visit their website. If you, too, lead a non-profit or you want to discover how versatile tents could support your business, contact us. Our Product Experts can help you explore all your options for a reliable and lasting canopy tent.
