2017-604 Co. Mgr. - NC Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Orange County Crop Fund

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Describe the target audience for this• The fund will benefit farmers across North Carolina. Any farmer project: that sells product to PFAP businesses will benefit from increased revenues. In particular, it will benefit farmers who sell produce directly to businesses or through vendors of local food.Some examples of the NC grownproducts currently purchased by PFAP clients include: blueberries,strawberries, soybeans, pecans, broccoli, spinach, basil, andtomatoes.lt will also benefit the food processors in PFAP who purchase NC-grown food. The fund will allow them to expand their capacity to purchase NC grown food products.These beneficiaries include seasonal and year- round processors of NC produce,food trucks, caterers,frozen- popsicle makers, and tempeh companies.The Client Requested Operations Purchase Fund funds will be used exclusively by PFAP clients who source their food products exclusively from NC farmers. In addition,-only PFAP clients who have a proven payment record at PFAP will be eligible to receive assistance. Eligible companies will complete an application process established by PFAP.The client must complete a PFAP NC Agriculture CROP Application. PFAP will oversea and adminstror the loan program. Orange County will monitor and provide oversite authority of the PFAP Loan Program. Give an approximate number of In the first five years,the CROP will benefit an estimated 10 participants in the project that would businesses,which will in turn benefit a total of 50 farmers.The benefit from the grant: estimated aggregate increase in revenue for NC farmers would be$25,000/year. In addition,the fund will benefit a much higher number of resale businesses that purchase client's product and thus increase access and revenue for PFAP clients. Describe the geographic area that the The CROP fund will directly benefit businesses in Orange, project will cover: Chatham,Alamance, and Durham County, however,the benefits radiate to all of North Carolina's counties. Directly in these four counties,the CROP aids in providing a convenient location in which farmers can market their agricultural products to the clients of PFAP. In addition to the mentioned four counties,the clients of PFAP source agricultural products from other counties as well. Describe similar projects, if any, in which This project is a new program for our organization. We hope to your organization has been involved: pilot it for other food hubs in the state.