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38 <br /> FINAL DRAFT-5-27-26 <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 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 /> • Priority Action 9b: Implement a farm-to-school pilot program to get food from <br /> Orange County farmers into Orange County Public Schools. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Partners identified and recruited 0 County staff including new <br /> • Pilot funding secured proposed Ag Viability and <br /> • Pounds of County-sourced fresh Farmland Stewardship position <br /> food going to the program 0 County Extension agent <br /> • $paid to Orange County farmers e US Department of Agriculture <br /> through pilot program <br /> • School and student survey ratings <br /> of pilot program <br /> • Priority Action 9c: Provide opportunities for aggregation, sale, and distribution <br /> of Orange County farm products to County and NC-wide markets through <br /> collaboration with a local food aggregator/distributor. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Parameters of program agreed 0 County staff including new <br /> with local food proposed Ag Viability and <br /> aggregator/distributor Farmland Stewardship position <br /> • Number of Orange County farmer 0 County Extension agent <br /> participants <br /> • Pounds of County-sourced food <br /> sold through program <br /> 36 <br />