A regional meeting to explore a local food system initiatives will be held Dec. 8, 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. N.C. State University’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems is hosting meetings across the state to learn what it will take to build a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina. Cabarrus County is partnering with the center on the Dec. 8 session.
These meetings will identify current local food projects and barriers to local food production, transportation of food and the structure needed to get local food products to market.
The meeting is part of a movement in North Carolina to make locating and buying locally produced foods easier for consumers and those in the food industry.
These meetings are focusing on four categories:
– Growing more farms and farmers;
– Developing new markets; – Creating infrastructure; and
– Building partnerships.
The goal is to build a local food system in the state that will supply the majority of local food needs, to provide more access to fresh foods and to increase the safety of our foods.
The effort also can protect open space, decrease the use of fossil fuels and protect our environment by relying less on food shipped here from across the country. Anyone with an interest in producing, transporting or marketing local food products is asked to participate in this meeting.
The information received at regional meetings will be used to develop a statewide action plan to be presented to state legislators.
For more information about North Carolina’s local food initiative, log on to www.cefsfarmtofork.com