Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 19, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-h <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of NCACC Presidential Initiative to Promote Food <br /> System Resiliency <br /> DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Resolution Commissioner Renee Price, 245-2130 <br /> Greg Wilder, 919-245-2300 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a Resolution in Support of NCACC Presidential Initiative to Promote <br /> Food System Resiliency. <br /> BACKGROUND: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) President and <br /> Martin County Commissioner Ronnie Smith is leading an initiative to address food system <br /> resiliency in North Carolina during NCACC's 2020-21 year. The goal of the presidential initiative <br /> is to identify ways counties can help ensure all North Carolinians have access to high-quality, <br /> affordable food and local producers are able to help meet this need. <br /> Counties are extensively involved in addressing food insecurity, particularly through their <br /> departments of social services which administer the food and nutrition service programs for <br /> families in need of assistance, public school systems that distribute meals to students and <br /> cooperative extensions which are in every county and provide research-based knowledge and <br /> educational programs enabling people to make practical decisions to improve their quality of life. <br /> There are many aspects of the food delivery system that counties directly impact and influence. <br /> Ensuring all residents have access to high-quality, affordable food contributes to the physical, <br /> mental, and societal health of a community. Counties can work directly with food providers, create <br /> pathways for partnerships and innovative solutions to increase food cultivation and distribution <br /> and can provide financial, technical and other in-kind support for initiatives that are supporting <br /> increased access to food systems. All of these efforts combined help build food system resiliency. <br /> President Smith has convened a task force to identify ways counties can provide more food <br /> resources and food security to their residents. Given the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic <br /> on food delivery systems, this task force will be charged with providing a range of actions, <br /> including short-term ideas and solutions that counties can undertake in real-time to immediately <br /> address food security issues in their communities. The task force will release findings and <br /> solutions after each convening so that counties can begin to work on this issue immediately. The <br /> task force will compile the action steps they promote throughout the fall into a final report to serve <br /> as a roadmap for counties utilize in developing their plans to address this critical issue. <br />