Minutes 11-11-2021 Virtual Busines Meeting

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7 He said the Board of Commissioners (BOCC) can assist in creating a scorecard to hold partners accountable. He said measurements should be made in access to food in the most efficient way, coming from the food economy around us. He said he wanted the Board of Commissioners to challenge partners. Mike Ortosky thanked James Watts for his comments and introduced Eric Hallman from the Piedmont Food Processing Center (PFPC). Eric Hallman acknowledged Veterans Day and thanked all veterans for their service. Eric Hallman said Orange County's leadership is needed in the area of food systems and making it a priority. He said Orange County is the envy of all its neighbors and is a leader in the local food economy, but others are catching on. He said Weaver Street is the largest co- operative grocery store in the southeast. He said there is more to be done and the BOCC needs to lead. Eric Hallman said the Piedmont Food Processing Center is a co-working space for food companies. He said it gives companies the opportunity to start working without large capital investment. He said David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) Director, had the vision to get the center started. He said the initial group put together several grants to pay for the center. He said the center is self-sustaining and does not get funding from Orange County. He said there are currently 65 companies at PFPC, and 75% of businesses that started with the center are still in business. He said PFPC is a huge success, and he is looking to the county for more leadership to keep moving forward in this opportunity to remain as a leader in this space. Mike Ortosky introduced Sue Ellsworth, founder of the WE Power Food. Sue Ellsworth said WE Power focuses on the specific needs of women food entrepreneurs, and is lead by women, for women. She said WE Power members include a variety of members, and problem solves to build a system to support its members. She said the environment is a judgment free space that empowers its members to grow. She said that WE Power is a statewide organization that connects through social media and also has a monthly meeting with guest speakers. She said in 2021, WE Power made its debut at the Food Incubation Summit, the largest network of kitchen incubators and networks in the world. She said WE Power is poised to be a leader in this area and hopes to grow to a national organization. Commissioner Greene asked if the genesis of this group could be shared, and why women are the focus. Sue Ellsworth said she has been at PFPC for several years, and noticed that there were many female owned companies that seemed to disappear and she wondered what happened. She said she heard many reasons that women were closing their businesses, even successful ones. She said family obligations and funding were two main issues. She said she started round table discussions, and really listened to the needs, which lead to the creation of WE Power. Mike Ortosky introduced Mart Bumgartner from the Orange County Extension. Mart Bumgartner described the purpose of the NC Extension. He said it provides information to help people. He said he is the crops and horticulture agent, working with famers and homeowners, and is responsible for the Master Gardner program. He said the Master Gardner program won an international award for the stormwater runoff garden between the courthouse and farmer's market in Hillsborough. He said is also the Orange County pesticide coordinator, and holds mandatory on going education training for farmers. He said some were done over Zoom during the pandemic, and an in-person training was held in September 2021. He said the pandemic has changed the landscape for farmers and many have been creative to stay afloat using CSAs and online orders.