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23 <br /> Slide #10 <br /> © State of <br /> Food Insecurity <br /> During the <br /> Covid19 Pandemic <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if the mission or goal of this think tank/advisory board <br /> could be identified. <br /> Ashley Heger said the goal would be to advise the Food Council on how Orange County, <br /> through local government, can create a more racially just and accessible agricultural <br /> community, which may be achieved through land use policy, capacity building on the ground <br /> with Black farmers, having additional caucus opportunities, etc. She said those working in this <br /> think tank will provide valuable expertise, and it is hoped that there will be a long-term <br /> relationship. <br /> Commissioner Price said she is a little concerned about this think tank, as Black farmers <br /> have been expressing ideas and thoughts for years, to no avail. She said issues are well <br /> known, and she is not sure that a think tank is needed, as far as access for Black farmers to <br /> participate in the market. She said she appreciates the intent, but is a little cautious about the <br /> charge/mission of the group. She said solutions are needed, as the questions are already <br /> known. <br /> Ashley Heger said the issues are known, but the capacity is not in place to give Black <br /> farmers access. She said the goal is to have farmers who have succeeded to share how they <br /> did so with those who need to build capacity. She said all can learn from this process. <br /> Commissioner Price said an example would be how does a Black farmer get his/her <br /> produce in Wegman's. She said the farmers often have all the knowledge, but simply cannot <br /> gain access, due to the color of their skin. <br /> Ashley Heger said the Food Council hopes to provide resources to level the playing field, <br /> and leverage relationships that have been built over the past few years. She said the goal is to <br /> have Black farmers lead this effort, as opposed to the Food Council telling them what to do. <br /> Chair Rich said it is a great idea, and the more people can be brought together the more <br /> ideas will be created. She said she looks forward to a future report on this item. <br /> Ashley Heger said other food councils are doing this work around the country, and <br /> Orange County wants to bring those best practices here. <br /> Commissioner Greene referred to the food distribution system breakdown at the <br /> beginning of Covid, and said CSAs were suddenly booming. She said she would like to hear <br /> the big vision of how to make it possible for Orange County to be more self-reliant on local <br /> produce, as opposed to relying on produce from around the country. <br /> Ashley Heger said one cannot grow everything in Orange County, but NC State is a <br /> wonderful resource, and there is a lot of work being done to allow local food to serve the local <br /> community. She said there are also discussions underway about how to bring certain foods <br /> back to Orange County, such as dairy, in a meaningful way. She said Covid has provided a <br /> sense of urgency to these issues, and other crises will arise in the future. She said many <br />