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Percent with Less Than High School Education 22.1% <br />Percent with High School Diploma 26.7% <br />Percent with Bachelor's Degree or Higher 27.6% <br />Graduation Rate 67.1% <br /> <br />Labor Force and Employment <br />Percent Working Age Population 62.3% <br />Unemployment Rate 2006 3.9% <br />Agriculture and Natural Resources <br />Total Agricultural Receipts $134,480,000 <br />Total Farms 2002 1,128 <br />Percent Family Owned Farms 94.7% <br />Average Farm Size 2002 105 <br />Tobacco Dependency Ranking Low <br />The region recorded 2,824 farms in 2002, with an average farm size of between 105 and <br />110 acres. Over 90% of those are classified as family farms. The largest number of farms <br />are found in Chatham (1,128), followed by Alamance (831), Orange (627), and Durham <br />(238). <br />The region enjoys several strong locally managed farmers markets operating during the <br />growing season in Hillsborough (Wednesdays and. Saturdays), Carrboro (Wednesdays <br />and Saturdays), Chapel Hill (Thursdays), Fearrington Village (Tuesdays), Pittsboro <br />(Thursdays), Durham (Saturdays- year round), and Burlington (Thursdays and <br />Saturdays). The region is situated between two of the state-run farmers markets, in <br />Raleigh and Greensboro. <br />While the number of farms in a given area is not necessarily an indicator of viability, for <br />projects of this type, the documented existence of such farms, coupled with the existence <br />of a healthy direct-to-consumer market for locally grown foods, does indicate that several <br />farm-based producers should have an interest in value-adding their production to extend <br />seasons or access new markets. This was borne out in the results from the survey <br />respondents. <br />II. Local Support and Infrastructure <br />The clients for this research formed a community advisory committee to provide input <br />and guidance to the researchers. Noah Ranells, agricultural developer for Orange County <br />Economic Development Commission, convened the first meeting of the advisory <br />committee on June 6~' at the Orange County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension <br />Service. The following individuals were invited to discuss the feasibility study-and <br />understand the process that would be undertaken: <br />13 <br />