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 MISSION:
WFI is a caring community who seek to build a sound food system that strengthens the health of our people, protects our natural world, and increases local business opportunities for the entirety of Wayne County and surrounding areas.
Our VISION:
A healthy, knowledgeable, and engaged community that through collaborative efforts and active leadership makes nutritious and affordable food accessible to all, protects the natural world through sound environmental practices, and supports a strong and growing local farming and business economy.
Our GOALS:
1. Increase knowledge among consumers and youth about links between food, agriculture, nutrition, health, and community strength
2. Increase sustainably produced food accessibility and affordability for the entire community
3. Increase the number of economically viable, sustainable farms
4. Increase food related enterprises
5. Facilitate the next generation of leaders in sustainable, local agriculture
Our AREAs of ACTION:
Youth Education
1.) school farm and community garden projects that
- link food system knowledge to academic curricula
- build community through intergenerational activity and mentoring, and
- develop growing, entrepreneur, and leadership skills.
Public Campaign, driven by Youths
1.) a youth-driven public campaign promoting education, engagement, and art in the food system using
- public art work
- information outreach through newsletter, website, literacy, and art, and
- community food assessment with “youth as ambassadors” connecting agriculture to nutrition, health, environmental stewardship, energy conservation, land preservation, and social responsibility.
Food Sovereignty, driven by Youths and Communty Partners
1.) Growing Sites:
- youth-run community gardens in vacant lots (hundreds of acres have been offered)
- in-town farm/s that provide direct access to sustainable farm experience and nutritious, fresh produce to low income communities, and
2.) Markets and direct access opportunities with low-income community access.
Farmer Support
1.) Education Support for new, transitioning, limited resource, and future farmers.
2.) New businesses
WFI MATERIALS:
download wfi-one-pager-11_081
download wfi-trifold-9_08
