Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> Food Council Progress Report: <br /> Based on goals identified in the Food Council's 2019-2020 Work Plan and coordinator work <br /> plans from 2019 to 2021 <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> The Food Council's 2019-2020 work plan was designed to be a living document that would <br /> evolve over time. The work plan was requested during the process to approve the MOU to <br /> create a Food Council Coordinator position in the county during the winter of 2018-2019. Any <br /> changes made to the Food Council's work plan and/or the Coordinator's scope of work have <br /> been approved by the County Manager and the Food Council's Executive Committee. These <br /> changes have been communicated in past Food Council Coordinator reports and board <br /> presentations. <br /> In 2020, the Food Council shifted its focus to developing connections between community <br /> expertise and decision-makers. This work has involved 1) building trusting relationships with the <br /> most impacted communities, 2) institutional capacity building, 3) data collection and policy <br /> evaluations, 4) community-led research and recommendations. <br /> In 2022, the Food Council will expand these efforts to include the following: <br /> 1. Food Access Assessment: The assessment began in fall 2021 and will run through <br /> spring 2022. A final report will be provided to County and Town leadership in late <br /> summer of 2022. The final report will include a community evaluation of food access <br /> data and recommendations for service providers and policy makers. This assessment <br /> has been designed and facilitated with community experts who have lived experience <br /> with food insecurity and hunger. <br /> 2. Expanding Local Food Markets Pilot Program: Facilitate a stakeholder input process <br /> with Cooperative Extension to gauge the interests, needs, and challenges of food <br /> producers in Orange County. After evaluating stakeholder responses, the Food Council <br /> and Cooperative Extension will provide recommendations for future pilot programs to <br /> support expanding markets and increasing access to local products. The stakeholder <br /> input process will include food producers and growers in Orange County plus local <br /> institutional buyers and regional distributors. <br /> COORDINATOR WORK 2019 — 2022 <br /> The Food Council Coordinator was hired in summer of 2019. An annual work plan is developed <br /> by the Food Council's Executive Committee and the County Manager approves a final plan. The <br /> following are highlights of the Food Council Coordinator's work from 2019 to 2020: <br /> • Staff liaison to Piedmont Food Processing Center: Coordinated the completion of a new <br /> Management Services Agreement and managed County reporting needs for a <br /> collaborative Golden Leaf Foundation grant. <br /> • Regional Coordination: Attend regular monthly meetings of statewide and regional <br /> networks including NC Farmworker Advocacy Network, North Carolina Network of Food <br /> Councils, NC Food System Advocacy Coalition, and regional meetings with TJ Council <br />