Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
44 <br />1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />What if Agriculture became Orange County's largest industry again?Z' <br />What if Orange County actively promoted the value of agriculture to keep the public aware of <br />the farm sector? What if local residents began to think of farm fields and forestland as <br />"working lands" rather than undeveloped land? What if residents began to acknowledge <br />farmers as the stewards of these finite natural resources, and as the innovative small <br />businessmen and women that they have been for generations? What if land use regulations <br />allowed more flexibility to accommodate the unusual needs of agricultural businesses? What if <br />officials considered the unintended consequences changes to development codes in Orange <br />County and its municipalities might have on farmers, prior to making decisions. <br />If the new Piedmont Regional Value-Added Processing <br />Center became the linchpin for farmers to finally break into <br />local institutional markets, then local children would know <br />what's in season by what's in their school lunch. The <br />processing center would provide the foundation of <br />agricultural infrastructure in Alamance, Chatham, Durham <br />and Orange counties. It would help small farmers <br />combine their individual harvests into larger units capable <br />of meeting the demands of cafeterias. The four-county <br />partnership would hire a broker to ensure that farmers si~~ND IT I-1>r+llr • K1' Ft" HE'~l <br />were growing the right amount of the right crops. <br />27 Farmers would start using greenhouses to grow produce during the ofF season to meet year- <br />28 round needs; they would be more comfortable trying something new because they would know <br />29 that there was a market waiting. The Piedmont Center would remain more of aself-serving <br />30 facility to help farmers connect with area restaurants, farmers markets and roadside stands. <br />31 <br />32 If agriculture became profitable again, all residents, particularly cyclists and distance runners <br />33 could enjoy the dairy farms along Dairyland and Orange Grove roads well into the future. The <br />34 farm communities, the northeast part ~of the county such as Schley and Caldwell could also see <br />35 a renewed interest in agriculture and forestry. Small crossroad stores would return to their <br />36 former status as community centers. A large-scale farm supple store would return to Orange <br />37 County because there would be a market for their goods, and in exchange, farmers would be <br />38 able to buy their supplies in their community. The County would also evaluate the need for <br />39 abattoirs, family meat processing facilities that meet USDA requirements. New forms of tax <br />40 assistance would help conventional farmers stay in business and help those farmers ready to <br />41 retire to have more options, more ways to keep the land that they love in production, while <br />42 providing for their children's future and their own health needs. <br />43 <br />27 More likely agriculture would become the third highest sector to the local economy, after the University <br />of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University Hospital system and local government: Orange County, <br />the municipalities and the associated public school systems. <br />Draft 19/09/2009 A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County 33 <br />