Wayne County - Community Food Systems Initiative

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NEXT MEETING - Friday, July 11th, 10am-noon, Wayne County Public Library!! This meeting will be the second project development meeting with Ginger Deason from Heifer International. COME develop a food project that will have a postive impact on the whole community!  Invite any and all.

EXCITING NEWS!! - Wednesday, July 16th, noon - 5:30pm, at the corner of Lionel and Ash, Karen Padgett from the Health Department has organized a MINI-MOBILE FARMERS’ MARKET!!  

The Health Department sponsored Mini-Mobile Farmers’ Market plans to provide FRESH, LOCAL produce to Wayne County residents, monthly and more often if demand exists.  

Choose Local.

Choose Fresh.

Choose Wayne County Produce!

 

Welcome to our community-based local food systems initiative. We have open community meetings (near) monthly to coordinate efforts for building the food system in Wayne County. We hope our efforts may be replicable for other counties across NC.

This site documents the continually developing plans and activites toward a local, sustainable farming and food system

Our GOALS:

1. Increase knowledge among consumers about links between food, agriculture, nutrition, health

2. Increase sustainably produced food accessibility and affordability for the entire community

3. Increase the number of economically viable, sustainable farms

4. Increase value-added processing and distributing enterprises

5. Facilitate the next generation of leaders in sustainable, local agriculture

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To address these goals we have identified areas of focus:

Youths

  1. school farm and community garden projects that link food production, processing, distribution, and marketing of locally produced foods and academic curricula, as well as link senior to youth through senior citizen expertise mentoring;
  2. youth-run corner gardens in inner-city vacant lots (hundreds of acres have been offered) building leadership skills and extending the education, engagement, and accessibility of healthy and healthfully grown foods to families and neighborhoods;
  3. a youth-driven public campaign “youth as ambassadors” connecting agriculture to nutrition, health, environmental stewardship, energy conservation, land preservation, and social responsibility.

New Farms/New Farmers

  1. school-to-farm transition opportunities and mentor programs;
  2. a collaboration between the CEFS apprentice program and the Community College Ag program, creating an “incubator” farm site that provides infrastructure, low-land leases, and equipment access; and
  3. grower training curricula and business planning development focused on transitioning to sustainable practices and diversified production.

Local Markets/Local Enterprises

  1. Wayne County Farmers’ Markets (the 4th largest ag county in NC, but has no farmers’ market) with low-income community access;
  2. a culinary school program addressing nutrition and linking local produce from school farms, an existing certified kitchen, and the local food bank;
  3. incorporate cooking expertise of senior citizens by linking seniors as mentors to youth chefs;
  4. Develop institutional marketing options in Wayne County.

Wayne County Community Food Systems Initiative

download word doc info sheet

download pdf info sheet