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Orange County Agricultural Center Work Group <br />25 October 2005 at 7:30 pm <br />Southern Human Services Center, Chapel Hill, NC <br />Members present: Betty Tom Davidson, Spence Dickenson *, Tony Kleese, Vickie <br />Brown, Marty Mandel (* arrived after 7:35 pm) <br />Guests: Sally Goerner, Robert Smith, Mike Senkpiel <br />Staff present: Fletcher Barber, Dianne Reid; Tina Moon, Noah Ranells, David Stancil (* <br />arrived after 7:35 pm) <br />Meeting was called to order at 7.34 pm by Betty. <br />Guests included individuals from a "sustainability hub" that were invited by Spence: <br />Sally Goerner, Robert Smith, and Mike Senkpiel. Sally indicated her interest in a <br />sustainability community network that restores grassroots economics and community <br />webs and wants to support getting farmers the facilities that they need. Mike indicated <br />his interest in the Blackwood Farm. Robert works with Leaflight, a non - profit working on <br />local ag and hunger relief through research, planning, policy education, and outreach. <br />Minutes <br />The Ag Center Work Group (ACWG) schedule for final report submission to the Board <br />of County Commissioners was discussed. Based on the initial charge to the ACWG, the <br />report was due "by January 22, 2006. At the previous ACWG meeting, Commissioner <br />Jacobs had indicated that submission of the report in April would be acceptable. Based <br />on this information, a formal motion was made by Tony, seconded by Marty, and <br />unanimously approved by the member present to submit the final report in April. <br />Blue Ridge Food Ventures <br />A brief slide presentation by staff shared photos of the trip to the Blue Ridge Food <br />Ventures facility in Candler, NC. The attached summary of the BRFV facility was <br />provided by staff. During the discussion several issues were noted. There was limited <br />use of the facility by local farmers, and this may be due to the fact that it is a new <br />facility. Other food entrepreneurs were processing local farm products in the facility. The <br />members were reminded that the initial interest of the ACWG was to visit a "community <br />kitchen ". <br />Options for obtaining a facility included the use of an existing or new school facility. If it <br />were built, who would manage it? Would it have a wet kitchen? A dry kitchen? Vickie <br />asked how farmers are currently operating in Orange County. Do they have the facilities <br />that they need? <br />Fletcher noted that a facility would definitely enhance the current situation and <br />encourage additional users. Currently, products are not processed to the degree <br />required by institutional buyers. Milk is the only readily marketable product. <br />