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INTRODUCTION The purpose of Cabarrus County Food System Assessment is two -fold. First, it provides an initial evaluation of the food system in Cabarrus County and, where appropriate, the surrounding region. Second, it highlights the assets and challenges within different food system segments, so strategies can be identified for building the County's local, sustainable food system. This will include identifying opportunities for economic growth within the County's food system and increasing consumer access to locally grown and raised foods. Phase I presented an overview of agricultural production in Cabarrus County as provided by a review of data sources. Key findings from Phase I are summarized in Progress Report: Summary of Phase I Research, which was presented to the Cabarrus Board of County Commissioners in October 2010. Phase II of the Food System Assessment characterizes and synthesizes the opportunities and challenges identified by different stakeholders in Cabarrus County's food system, including farmers and food buyers within three distinct market channels: direct -to- consumer, retail, and food - service /institutional. Data across segments of the food system was collected through a combination of focus groups and individual interviews. Information related to vegetable and beef production is included, while consumption data is included as available. An effort was also made to collect information related to existing infrastructure and the County's capacity to support processing, distribution and marketing of locally grown and raised foods. Altogether, 60 food system stakeholders were interviewed. Almost all were recommended by the County for participation. The list includes 14 producers, four individuals from the food processing sector, four working in food distribution, three engaged in serving direct markets, nine people working in restaurants, seven involved with County institutions, five from the retail /grocery market channel, three involved in emergency food assistance, three from Cabarrus cooperative extension, and six consumers. (Some people are included in more than one category.) Repeated efforts were made to contact other participants, primarily representatives from food processing and distribution businesses and large grocery stores. Our experience proved—as we suspected —that these groups are difficult to engage without formal, established relationships. When considering the overarching recommendations related to Phase II of data collection, the issue of market access received special attention. To build a local food system, local farmers need access to markets. Ideally, they will be able to sell their products through more than one market channel, including retail, food - service, and direct -to- consumer. As the interviews summarized here show, each market channel offers different opportunities and challenges. Each presents unique requirements for producers, who need different resources to access different markets. This report includes recommendations for strengthening producer (and consumer) access to individual market channels. It also includes five key strategic recommendations that are designed to help the County build the market channels that offer the most opportunity for producers and consumers. 3 Attachment number 1 1 -1 Page 238