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Did You Know?

If every North Carolinian dedicated just 10 percent
of their food purchases to local foods,
it would add up to $3.5 billion
for the state economy!

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Sustainable Local Food Systems

Public interest in sustainable local agriculture is growing, and it can be seen in the development of new farmers' markets, local food policy councils, comprehensive county- and region-based food initiatives, farm incubator programs, farm and garden youth education programs, health and nutrition projects focused on local sustainable foods, procurement initiatives by large retail and institutional buyers and schools, and much more. Benefits of a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina include

  • economic development,
  • job creation within farming and food sectors,
  • preservation of open space,
  • decreased use of fossil fuel and associated carbon emissions,
  • preservation and protection of the natural environment,
  • increased consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods,
  • and greater food security for all North Carolinians.

Community-Based Food Systems

CEFS supports a number of Community-Based Food Systems (CBFS) initiatives that fall into the following general categories:

Rebuilding Food System Infrastructure and Supply Chains for Local Foods

NC Choices

NC Choices promotes sustainable food systems through the advancement of the local, niche and pasture-based meat supply chain in North Carolina. (www.ncchoices.com).
Contact: Casey McKissick

> Firsthand Foods

A CEFS-incubated business that aggregates, distributes, and markets high-quality, locally-raised, pasture-based beef and pork products (www.firsthandfoods.com).
Contacts: Tina Prevatte and Jennifer Curtis

Consumer Education

NC 10% Campaign

A public education initiative to encourage all North Carolinians to dedicate 10% of their existing food dollars to locally-grown and produced foods.
Contact: Teisha Wymore

Community and Youth Engagement

WFI: Wayne Food Initiative 

CEFS supports WFI, a collaborative, community-led effort with a mission to build a fair and equitable food system that is accessible and affordable to all (www.waynefoods.org).
Contact: Shorlette Ammons

Students Working for an Agricultural Revolutionary Movement (SWARM) and Produce Ped'lers

SWARM is a CEFS-supported youth food activist group based in Goldsboro and the emerging leaders program of the Wayne Food Initiative. In cooperation with the Wayne Food Initiative and other Goldsboro-based community partners, CEFS also supports Produce Ped'lers, a youth-run bike delivery program that delivers fresh produce from the City farmer’s market to areas of the community that have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Contact: Shorlette Ammons

Discover Ag

Housed at CEFS' Small Farm Unit, Discover Ag is a free program that uses scientific concepts to teach elementary-age students about sustainable agriculture. This program is a part of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University.
Contact: Shorlette Ammons

FoodCorps

CEFS and 4-H have partnered to bring FoodCorps to North Carolina. FoodCorps addresses the epidemic of nutrition-related diseases facing our children through hands-on nutrition education, hands-on school gardening, and increased local food pathways to school cafeterias.
Contact: Tes Thraves

Food Youth Initiative

Vision: Statewide youth leadership advancing good food consumption and a just food system.
Contact: Tes Thraves

4-H Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum 

Supporting North Carolina 4-H in its commitment to create a sustainable agriculture and local food curriculum, and partnering in farm to school efforts.
Contact: Tes Thraves

New Farmer Training

Bringing New Farmers to the Table

The Bringing New Farmers to the Table project makes support for beginning farmers an integral part of CEFS' 10% Campaign. The long-term success of North Carolina’s local food economy is dependent upon an influx of new and transitioning farmers.
Contact: Joanna Lelekacs

Orange County Cooperative Extension and Orange County Economic Development: Breeze Farm

CEFS supports Orange County's PLANT @ Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator, an incubator farm that seeks to revitalize agricultural activity in the Piedmont region through training on small scale sustainable farming techniques. (www.orangecountyfarms.org/PLANTatBreeze.asp).
Contact: Nancy Creamer

Institutional Capacity-Building for Food Systems Work

Local Foods for Local Governments Support Programs

CEFS offers four complementary programs for local governments interested in creating or expanding their local food system: conducting a food assessment; providing planning assistance for creating an incubator farm; providing technical assistance to develop, write and implement internal local food policies; and marketing and data collection through the 10% Campaign.
Contact: Sybil Tate

SARE PDP Community-Based Food Systems Training

Summary and outcomes of a two-year train-the-trainer grant from the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Professional Development Program (SARE PDP) focused on forming broad collaborations of extension personnel paired with community leaders, policy makers, business owners, farmers and local consumers to build local food systems.
Contact: Joanna Lelekacs

Policy Development

Farm to Fork Statewide Initiative

CEFS directed a year-long (2008-2009) exploration of action opportunities for building a local, sustainable food system (www.cefs.ncsu.edu/cefsfarmtofork/home.html) with stakeholders across the state.
Contact: Nancy Creamer

> From Farm to Fork: Building a Sustainable Local Food Economy in North Carolina (.pdf; opens in new window)

A comprehensive report synthesizing conversations and outcomes of the Farm to Fork process with recommendations for statewide and local action.
Contact: Jennifer Curtis

Sustainable Local Foods Advisory Council

CEFS participates in this statewide legislated body tasked to facilitate the development of a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina. Follow the Council's activities here.
Contact: Nancy Creamer