RES-2012-056 Resolution Supporting North Carolina 10% Campaign and The Local Food Economy

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Res. 2012 -056 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE 1110% CAMPAIGN" AND THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY WHEREAS, Orange County has a long history and tradition of agriculture and a local food economy, and has supported local agriculture - as a critical component of the local economy; of protecting farmland for future production as part of agricultural heritage, economy and open space; and of promoting local food consumption as exemplary of a commitment to sustainable agriculture and linkages between `farm and fork;' and WHEREAS, Orange County partnered with several other counties and State agencies to plan, identify, construct and fund the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center, located in Hillsborough and opened in 2011, which provides a means to producing value -added products from local agricultural products, was built with over $1.4 million in grant funds from a variety of State and federal sources, and now has 21 clients selling locally and as far away as China; and WHEREAS, Orange County is fortunate to be home to many agricultural entrepreneurs and consumers who have been statewide leaders in transitioning into new and innovative agriculture, as well as vibrant farmers markets that make local foods available to individual and institutional consumers in the area who benefit from fresh or value -added local foods; and WHEREAS, the W.C. Breeze Family Farm Agricultural Extension and Research Center's "PLANT" program has now graduated 230 student - farmers since 2008, with four start-up farms and seven individuals leasing land at Breeze farm in 2012; and WHEREAS, North Carolina residents spend about $35 billion a year on food, and Orange County residents spend around $300 million a year on food, meaning that 10% of this amount spent on local foods would generate approximately $3.5 billion (or $30 million in Orange) for the local economy; and WHEREAS, Piedmont Grown, a 37- county regional program to promote awareness about locally grown, raised, and made farm and food products as well as ag tourism opportunities was launched in May 2011 with significant support from Orange County; WHEREAS, the public health benefits of local foods have been widely researched and found to be very beneficial to reducing childhood and adult obesity and healthy lifestyles; and WHEREAS, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems' (CEFS) "10% Campaign" — working in conjunction with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service - supports these local and regional food economies and benefits local food producers, businesses and communities; and WHEREAS, Orange County has stated goals of promoting local agriculture as a means of promoting economic development, which provides job creation and helps protect the health, safety and general welfare of County residents both now and in the future: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the "10% Campaign" to promote the local food economy and