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8 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> 9) Support farmers in efforts to expand into wholesale markets. <br /> a) Educate farmers about the benefits of, and provide funding for, their GAP certification. <br /> b) Fund and implement a farm-to-school pilot program to get food from Orange County <br /> farmers into Orange County Public Schools. <br /> c) Provide opportunities for aggregation, sale, and distribution of Orange County farm <br /> products to County and NC-wide markets through collaboration with a local food <br /> aggregator/distributor. Food hubs can aggregate, store, and distribute products from <br /> multiple farmers to achieve and distribute wholesale quantities that individual small <br /> farmers cannot achieve on their own. <br /> d) In collaboration with the NC Department of Agriculture and in consultation with Tri-COG <br /> FEEDS (Food Ecosystem Economic Development Strategy), conduct a feasibility study for <br /> a regional market and aggregation/distribution center in the vicinity of I-40/1-85. <br /> 10)Provide citizens and decision-makers with information and education on agriculture <br /> in Orange County and with opportunities to engage with the farming community. <br /> a) Update the Agricultural Viability and Farmland Stewardship Plan biennially. Discuss the <br /> biennial update at a Board of County Commissioners meeting dedicated to agricultural <br /> viability in the County. <br /> b) Publicize and communicate about Orange County agriculture through an Agriculture <br /> web page or website, social media, and other electronic means. <br /> c) Convene a periodic agricultural festival for the public. <br /> d) Expand the County Farm-to-Table event to reach more children. <br /> 11)Offer financial incentives for agriculture and agricultural development in the County. <br /> a) Broaden eligibility criteria for Agricultural Economic Development grants to include <br /> agricultural support entities (e.g., NC FarmLink, Farmer Foodshare), and allow flexibility in <br /> awarding grant funds across three categories of recipient (new farmers, established <br /> farmers, agricultural support entities). <br /> b) Fund new-farmer-startup grants and develop tax credits to assist qualified new farmers <br /> with purchase of farmland. <br /> c) Identify and establish property tax incentives to support farm sustainability. <br /> d) Conduct a multi-County pilot program to reduce the acreage requirement of the <br /> Present Use Value Program to 1 acre. <br /> Potential funding sources include <br /> • Deferred Taxes from Farmland Coming Out of the Present Use Value Program <br /> Properties in the Present Use Value program coming out of agricultural use are subject to <br /> deferred taxes with accrued interest, immediately due and payable, for the year of <br /> disqualification and the three previous years. Revenue generated from these tax dollars <br /> could be directed to an Agricultural Trust Fund. Similar successful programs are currently <br /> operating in Cabarrus County, Chatham County, Lee County, and Wake County. <br /> • Land Transfer Tax <br /> North Carolina counties have the ability, granted by the North Carolina General <br /> Assembly, to levy a tax on the sale of real property. For Orange County, the tax can <br /> amount to 0.4% of the sale price of real estate levied in the year of the sale. To be <br /> implemented, the tax must be approved by a majority vote of citizens. <br /> • Grants from entities including the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation <br /> Trust Fund, Golden Leaf, the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund, and the Orange County <br /> Farm Bureau. <br /> 6 <br />