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the Country. He said they are typically formed around biotech or IT, and occasionally around <br /> food systems. He said the smaller version is food enterprise district, which is all of an <br /> economic development district. He said even smaller version is the food hub. He spoke with <br /> developer in Baltimore who is building a food hub. He said this is a campus with all of the <br /> collaborative facilities on site. He said a part of that would be the rural aggregator, who could <br /> be out of town or part of the economic district. He said the goal is to build a market for <br /> growers. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said Mike Lenier was originally hired for Mike Ortosky's position. <br /> He said he appreciates the amount of effort going into this process. He said it is a refreshingly <br /> aggressive opportunity. <br /> Commissioner Price said the farmers would need a guarantee that someone is going to <br /> buy their product. She said it will be important to start small. She said the aggregator models <br /> are very similar to past co-ops. She said in co-ops someone would pool all the types of <br /> produce from the various farms and get them to the market. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said a lot of the co-ops go back to the progressive movement <br /> one hundred years ago. He said there is no longer a philosophical framework to work together <br /> without government or big business involvement. <br /> Mike Ortosky said it is important to just keep the conversation and the process moving <br /> forward. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said the schools have to review their vendors every five <br /> years, and that is a good time to have these conversations about local foods. <br /> David Stancil said the schools have been approached and the County continues to try <br /> and foster conversation. <br /> David Stancil said when the Board of County Commissioners approved this Resolution <br /> in 2012, they were asked to go back to review currently practices. He said departments that <br /> do major catering were also surveyed. <br /> Chair McKee expressed thanks for the hard work being done. He said he is particularly <br /> intrigued about the aggregator. He said it will be critical that growers in Orange County have a <br /> market for their product. He said if that piece cannot be put in place, the process will stall. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to <br /> adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. <br /> Earl McKee, Chair <br /> Donna Baker <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />