Previously on Inside Agriculture, we began our visit with Jennifer Curtis, Project Director for NC Choices, a part of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Initiative. Yesterday, we learned that their goal is to encourage not only individuals to purchase more local food, but businesses and institutions as well:
 “The Center for Environmental Farming Systems with support from the Golden Leaf Foundation has just launched a 10% campaign where we’re challenging individuals, businesses, institutions to dedicate 10% of their food purchases to local, sustainable food in North Carolina. we’re really excited about it, I think we have close to 400 different commitments from individuals and businesses.”
And they’re getting commitments from some major players in the food business:
“In fact, one of our largest participants is Compass Foods, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is the largest food service company in the world, and they are committed to the 10% campaign, Cicso, you’ve all heard of this food distribution business, they’re committed as well. So, we’re seeing a lot of interest, as distribution business, processing businesses look for opportunities to source locally.”
The ultimate goal of the Initiative is to keep farmers on the farm:
“And, ultimately, what we want to translate this into, of course is support for our local farmers, we’re a really strong agricultural state, but farmers still struggle financially to make a living off the farm. And the more they have opportunities they have to produce food to go into the local markets the better off they’re going to be. So, we really think…really all of us at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems are strongly motivated to support our local farmers.”
Many fruit and vegetable farmers in North Carolina are reformed tobacco farmers:
“There’s been a lot of effort at that state level to bring in grant fundings and programs that will support tobacco farmers to transition to other kinds of crops that are equally valuable. You know, tobacco is a very profitable crop per acre. You can have just a few acres of tobacco and make a decent living. You can’t just replace tobacco with corn or soybeans and expect the same kind…as you well know. But, looking at fresh market tomatoes, lettuces, fresh fruits and vegetables, that people consume at farmers markets, those are comparable, that’s how you can keep your profits up. But, you have to have good markets, and all the support systems in place to get that from the farm to the fork.”
We’ll continue our visit with Jennifer Curtis with NC Choices tomorrow on Inside Agriculture, part 3...
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