Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date:November 11, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 1 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Food Systems Community & Economic Development Update <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: North Carolina Cooperative <br />Extension Service <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> <br />Presentation Overview and PowerPoint <br />Subject Area Summaries <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Mike Ortosky, Community Development <br />Agent, (919) 245-2336 <br />Mart Bumgarner, Orange County NC <br />Extension, Agriculture Agent <br />James Watts, Weaver Street Market Coop <br />Sue Ellsworth, WE Power/Piedmont Food <br />Processing Center <br />Eric Hallman, Piedmont Food Processing <br />Center <br />Ashley Heger, Orange County Food <br />Council <br />Tyrone Fisher, Orange County Extension <br />Director <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To receive a presentation and discuss regional food and agricultural systems status, <br />COVID effects, current initiatives, trends and directions. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: There has been growing interest in recent years around local and regional food <br />systems and the extent to which a more proximate, deep, diverse, and equitable system is <br />possible. The recent pandemic has further illuminated issues, challenges, and also opportunities <br />within the economic, social, and environmental aspects of food systems. North Carolina, and <br />Orange County in particular, has led many advances over the years in sustainable food systems <br />and agriculture. In the current environment, values and demand are changing rapidly, creating <br />the need for effective responses in policy, funding, education, and advocacy. Informed <br />collaborative regional efforts, based on trusted community relationships, are critical in the <br />development of more resilient food systems. <br /> <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact with receiving the presentation and <br />discussion. The economic impact potential of capturing more business components of the food <br />system in Orange County and the region is significant. While the state and region continue to <br />have enormous agricultural production potential, there is tremendous opportunity for growth in <br />other major sectors such as processing, distribution, market development, and waste streams. <br />Incubating, retaining, and attracting appropriate food system businesses results in greater <br />1