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DRAFT/March 27,2026 <br /> Box 2. Orange County Citizen Amy Thomas <br /> on the Importance of Local Farms and Food <br /> "Local farming is S000 important for many reasons. Here <br /> are just a few that resonate with me; <br /> 1)Food grown by trusted local farmers is much fresher, <br /> flavorful,packed with nutrition, and free of potential <br /> contaminants as compared with food that is grown at and <br /> transported over a distance(sometimes a GREAT <br /> distance)to end up in 'supermarkets. <br /> 2)Food grown locally helps reduce environmental <br /> impacts by reducing the carbon footprint associated <br /> with airplane, truck, and train fuels, (as well as traffic!) <br /> during transportation of products. <br /> 3)Local farming equals support of local economies. Period. <br /> In keeping with residents' view of the importance of local agriculture, direct-to- <br /> consumer sales from Orange County farms have increased steadily over the <br /> past decade coincident with growth in market opportunities including farmers <br /> markets, CSAs (community supported agriculture programs), grocery store <br /> cooperatives, intermediated sales, and restaurants (Kelmenson, 2016; <br /> Agricultural Census, 2022). <br /> Orange County citizens surveyed for input to the <br /> County's 2050 Land Use Plan identified protecting <br /> agricultural/working lands and healthy soils as a <br /> most important environmental need. <br /> Local food hubs have operational expertise and capacities in food aggregation <br /> and distribution to support Orange County farmers in expanding their markets. <br /> Local food hubs such as Farmer Foodshare and Happy Dirt house aggregation <br /> and distribution centers within short drives of Orange County farmers, and they <br /> have systems in place for marketing and sales to local and regional institutional <br /> and individual buyers. They offer the potential to expand wholesale market <br /> opportunities for farmers and farmer cooperatives. Food hubs can aggregate, <br /> store, and distribute products from multiple farmers to achieve and distribute <br /> wholesale quantities that individual small farmers cannot achieve on their own. <br /> 18 <br />