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buying clubs and/or sell their produce through CSAs, but the numbers are few. Retail, food service and institutional market channels present an un- tapped opportunity for Cabarrus County farmers both locally and regionally. Sysco markets and distributes food products to restaurants, lodging facilities and institutions worldwide. The company has two N.C. locations, and one —Sysco Charlotte, LLC —is headquartered in Concord. Sysco recently expressed interest in marketing beef raised in Cabarrus County as part of its Source Verified Program. The company is also exploring plans to open a meat and fish processing facility in Cabarrus County. The Southern Piedmont includes Mecklenburg County, home to the city of Charlotte — the 18th largest city in the U.S. —as well as approximately 900,000 people. According to the USDA Food Atlas, Mecklenburg is also home to 185 grocery stores and 804 full - service restaurants. Compass Group, North America, a national foodservice and distribution company with 8,000 accounts across the United States (including UNC Charlotte) is located in Charlotte. In June 2009, the company announced its "AG in the Middle" program, a pilot project designed to bring mid -sized produce farms into Compass Group's supply chain through the company's distribution network. Charlotte is also home to the Southeast headquarters of the nation's largest organic food distributor — Albert's Organics. The company places a priority on buying local (within 150 miles) and regional (within 250 miles) foods from farmers surrounding its distribution centers, and its recent move to the Queen City will provide a valuable new market channel for Cabarrus' producers of certified organic fruits and vegetables. Issues to be explored Cabarrus farmers need access to all major market channels in order to thrive: direct sales (farmer's markets); retail (grocery stores); food service (restaurants); and institutional (dining services in hospitals, schools, and prisons). There are different opportunities and challenges associated with each of these market channels. Common to most is the need for infrastructure, businesses and support systems to store, process, distribute and market local products. This raises questions such as: Which market channels are currently accessible to local farmers? What barriers do Cabarrus farmers face in accessing these markets? What factors contribute to success in accessing local markets? What resources are needed to expand local markets? Do opportunities exist for regional collaboration that leads to increased market access for local farmers? VI. Natural Resources Fewer farms and less farmland- As of 2007, Cabarrus County was home to 611 farms, a 7% decrease from the 658 farms that were reported in the 2002 UDSA Census. 11 Attachment number 2 G -4 Page 520