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DRAFT/March 27,2026 <br /> • Priority Action 8a: Form a County Agritourism Networking Group for peer-to- <br /> peer agritourism education and support. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Agritourism Networking Group County Extension agent <br /> formed <br /> • Number of participants <br /> • Participant ratings <br /> • Priority Action 8b: Incorporate an agritourism module into the new and <br /> beginning farmer education program (Priority Action 7a). <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> Module completed and launched 0 County Extension agent <br /> • County staff including new <br /> proposed Ag Viability and <br /> Farmland Stewardship position <br /> Recommendation 9: Support farmers in efforts to expand into wholesale markets. <br /> Agriculture in Orange County is evolving toward a preponderance of small, <br /> diversified farms selling directly to the customer. Although Orange County has a <br /> sizable customer base buying directly from farmers through outlets such as <br /> farmers markets and CSAs, direct-to-customer sales alone are insufficient to <br /> support profitability of many of these farms. Wholesale selling to institutional <br /> buyers such as schools and hospitals can help increase profitability. However, <br /> most small farms do not sell wholesale because of factors including wholesale <br /> buyers' reluctance to contract directly with small farms, insufficient volume of <br /> product, and lack of food safety certification (Good Agricultural Practices, or <br /> GAP certification) required by most wholesale buyers. Priority Actions 9a through <br /> 9d provide mechanisms for addressing these challenges. Local food <br /> aggregators/distributors such as Farmer Foodshare have the expertise, systems, <br /> and infrastructure to support Priority Actions 9b and 9c. A local-hub-supported <br /> farm-to-school program (Priority Action 9b) is being run successfully in Durham <br /> County. <br /> • Priority Action 9a: Educate farmers about the benefits of, and provide <br /> funding for, their GAP certification. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Number of GAP educational 0 County staff including new <br /> sessions conducted proposed Ag Viability and <br /> • Number of farmers completing Farmland Stewardship position <br /> GAP certification training 0 County Extension agent, Carolina <br /> Farm Stewardship Association <br /> 31 <br />