AG 2011 09 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

O I photo: Jennifer Curtis Food processing is part of food systems infrastructure, and is defined as the physical capacity to get food from farm to market. In our Phase I summary we reported that farmers participating in local food systems need access to infrastructure that is scaled to meet their needs. This summary includes key points taken from interviews with farmers and County Extension staff, as well as food processors and distributors. Throughout the interview process, attention was given to the following questions: What infrastructure is available to small and mid -sized farmers in Cabarrus County? Does it meet local farmers' needs, and if not, why not? What infrastructure is needed to expand market opportunities? Do opportunities exist for regional collaboration? Infrastructure cited as a need The County has no processing facilities for produce. Several people interviewed mentioned that access to community kitchen and a cannery would be beneficial for local farmers. As mentioned earlier, a Food Policy Council committee has drafted a wish list for a facility that would help small and mid -scale farmers process produce so that it could be sold to wholesale distributors. The building would have loading docks, a place to wash produce, plus coolers and freezers. An effort is currently underway to secure grant funding for research that would measure food production and consumption in the Charlotte metro area. Cabarrus County is an active participant, along with food system stakeholders from Mecklenburg and neighboring counties. The goal is to show the potential economic impact of a regional food system and to use the data to develop food systems infrastructure — possibly an aggregation facility — that will support producers from across the region. Cruse plant will provide local meat processing infrastructure As mentioned above, construction for the Cruse slaughter facility is expected to begin in 2011. The County needs additional funds to cover the cost of handling wastewater inside the facility, and it has identified a source for that funding. Opportunity for local produce processing is limited One processor, a local business owner, says cost affects his purchase of local food. Distribution is also a problem because he cannot go pick up products. Finally he reports he needs more supply and variety. If he buys squash from an individual farmer, it often isn't enough, so he has to go out and buy more, which is inconvenient. "Bottom line is if you can't guarantee product supply or availability, then it won't work," he says. "I'm open to buying local, if the supply is there and the price is reasonable." The Bost Grist Mill in Concord sells some grits and corn meal, mostly as novelty items. The owner is open to selling /grinding locally -grown corn — not wheat — but currently doesn't have a way to store what he grinds. His facility is state inspected, which means the corn is checked every 30 days. He prefers to keep corn chilled to store it, as opposed to using chemicals to keep it bug -free. Daily Manufacturing processes and distributes nutritional herbs and supplements. Some high demand herbs that can be grown in Cabarrus are Echinacea, milk thistle, dandelion, garlic and possibly ginger. If grown in Cabarrus these products would need to be processed and cleaned at another facility. Most herb processing facilities are in California. Cabarrus County Food System AsAsessmentt nu�ber 1 1 -1 Page 639