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Producers from the Food Policy Council's Food, People and Resources Committee have drafted a wish list for a facility that would help connect small and mid -scale producers with wholesale distributors. They describe a building that would have loading docks, a place to wash produce, plus coolers and freezers. It would most likely be a producer cooperative and ideally, would serve as a distribution point for CSAs and have some retail capability. Notes from the January 2011 committee meeting include $3 million as one cost estimate. Soil and water shortages can present challenges Cabarrus soils and climate are adequate, but not ideal, for vegetable production. The County is a drainage area between the Rocky River and Buffalo Creek, which gives it rocky slate belt soils and steep slopes. Cold air sinks into the low lying areas along the slopes, making the County's last frost date April 10, compared to April 1 for Rowan County, which sits up higher on a plateau. The 10 -day difference in these frost dates puts Cabarrus farmers two to three weeks behind Rowan farmers in getting products to market. Water can also be a challenge for Cabarrus farmers. Water stor- age is mostly in shallow aquifers, and wells can have low yields. Produce production is critical but faces challenges According to County Extension Agent David Goforth, vegetable farming in Cabarrus is a good source of part -time or retire- ment income. However, the County is encouraging new farmers through the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm, where 14 people are mak- ing plans to enter farming as a full -time occupation. These new farmers need marketing education and access to land. Extension Director Debbie Bost reports the County is work- ing to connect landowners who want to make land available for agriculture with farmers enrolled in the Incubator Farm Program. "We have put people on land, and we have three farmers working to prepare land this year, so they will be able to farm it next year," she said. There is also some opportunity for increased fruit production. "We don't have a strawberry grower in the County, and for anyone to get started, they would need water. The main thing is to find someone who wants to do this," Goforth says. One farmer, who works full -time at Lowe's and owns a U -pick blackberry farm, is interested in scaling up pro- duction. To do this, he needs access to capital and /or grants to cover costs of land or new on -farm infrastructure. He has explored selling to Dole, which has a research facility in the Kannapolis, but said they require their berries to be chilled to 34 degrees in 20 minutes. "This takes massive chillers and a lot of labor. Plus if you don't meet their standards exactly, they won't buy the berries," he reports. It is challenging for small -scale produce farmers to support themselves and their families on farm income alone. Fruit and vegetable production is often suited for part -time or retirement income. Direct markets — CSAs, food - buying clubs and farmers markets — offer the greatest potential for enhancing farmer profitability. Farmers serving these markets are looking for ways to expand their business, both by reaching new customers and using new models for distribution. Scaling local food supplies beyond seasonal fresh produce sold directly to consumers will require that farmers have access to capital that covers infrastructure costs as they try to maintain or improve their operation. And new and existing farmers need access to land. It is noteworthy that few farmers interviewed expressed an interest in scaling up production. The County is building its producer base through the Incubator Farm, but needs strategies for cultivating mid -scale farmers as well. If producers do decide to increase production, they will need infrastructure that is appropriately scaled to meet their needs. This infrastructure is critical to their ability to access larger markets, such as restau- rants, grocery stores and institutions. photo: Jennifer Curtis Cabarrus County Food System AsAsesssment number I 1 1 -1 Page 635