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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 5, 2016 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-d <br /> SUBJECT: Orange County Food Council <br /> DEPARTMENT: Economic Development <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Mike Ortosky, Agriculture Economic <br /> Developer, 919-245-2336 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive an update on the status of the formation of the Orange County Food <br /> Council and consider a request that one member of the Board be appointed to the Council <br /> representing Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: In response to changing demand for local food systems, healthier eating <br /> habits, need for viable farming options, and food access issues, Food Councils are increasingly <br /> becoming an instrument for input from local residents and for guiding businesses and policy <br /> makers. A grassroots Task Force was formed and has been meeting regularly for over a year to <br /> develop a local food council. The Orange County Economic Development Office funded the <br /> facilitation of the initial formative meetings. Two public meetings have also been conducted and <br /> a preliminary food assessment has been completed to further inform the process. <br /> The Task Force has proposed 15 positions (from specific professional and community-related <br /> positions to include elected officials) and plans for the first Council to meet within the next 60 <br /> days. Applications have been received from many sources and the Task Force is considering <br /> those as it also asks for elected officials from Orange County, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and <br /> Carrboro to be Council members. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Task Force, on behalf of the Food Council (soon to be formalized), <br /> has made application for Outside Agency/Human Services funding via The United Way of the <br /> Greater Triangle. No other funding is requested at this time. The Food Council will be <br /> instrumental in supporting farm and food system economic development which is anticipated to <br /> increase the number of farms, farm income, and food businesses located in Orange County, <br /> thereby increasing and diversifying the tax base. <br /> SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable <br /> to this agenda item: <br />