Golden LEAF supports NC's 10% campaign promoting locally grown food

In roughly 18 months, participants in North Carolina's 10% Campaign have recorded over $10 million in purchases of locally-produced foods.

The 10% Campaign is a statewide effort of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/to stimulate economic development, create jobs and promote North Carolina’s farms and fisheries.
More than 4,400 individuals and 427 businesses, including 72 restaurants, have signed on to the campaign through the website –http://www.nc10percent.com/— pledging to spend 10 percent of their food budget on locally-sourced foods. Each week, participants receive an e-mail prompting them to record the amount spent on local food that week.

Launched in July 2010 in partnership with North Carolina Cooperative Extension http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=localfoodsand with funding from Golden LEAF http://www.goldenleaf.org/about.html,the 10% Campaign has generated support across the state. At its one-year anniversary in July, the campaign reported expenditures of $5.7 million. Since that time, the dollars recorded on the site have nearly doubled to more than $10 million.

"Golden LEAF is proud to support the 10% Campaign, which benefits North Carolina farmers and fishermen and helps grow our state’s economy,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president. "The $10 million mark is a true testament to the commitment of our agricultural community and the quality of North Carolina-grown products.”

The campaign was a game-changer idea from the Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ 2009 initiative, "From Farm-to-Fork: Building North Carolina’s Local Food Economy,” that included several action items for building North Carolina’s sustainable, local food system. The idea is that if all North Carolinians spent 10 percent of their food dollars on locally produced food, $3.5 billion would be available in the state’s economy.

Much of the campaign’s success can be attributed directly to its wide spectrum of partners. Among those pledging to spend 10 percent on local food are locally-owned businesses and community organizations including 76 restaurants; hospitals and medical centers; universities and colleges; and thousands of individuals.

The campaign also encourages individuals to seek out and enjoy farm products from its farmers’ network across the state.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension has partnered with the campaign as well. In all the state’s 100 counties and the Qualla Boundary of the Cherokee Nation, Extension agents designated as local food coordinators support the campaign by making connections between consumers, community businesses and local food producers. Cooperative Extension also hosts many public events and workshops in support of the campaign and local foods programs.

"The local food coordinators with Cooperative Extension provide a valuable link between their communities and farmers, as well as the local governments” said Campaign Manager Teisha Wymore. "We wouldn’t be where we are without them.”

Local governments, organizations and businesses may support the campaign in three ways: By pledging to spend 10 percent of their food budget on local foods; by encouraging their employees to join; or by promoting the campaign on a website, through email or through public events.

Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Guilford, Forsyth, Onslow and Rockingham counties have adopted resolutions in support of the campaign. In addition, Goldsboro, Southport and the Town of Knightdale have also joined the campaign.
Buy-local food labels are making it easier for consumers to identify and choose North Carolina food products. Large-scale food purchasers participating in the campaign include Centerplatehospitality, serving the RaleighConvention Center and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts; and the campus dining services at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University

Health Care facilities like Pender Memorial Hospital and New Hanover Medical Center have committed their support by hosting employee farmers markets and serving fresh, local foods in their cafeterias.

"Developing and maintaining partnerships are pivotal to the campaign’s success. ” saidWymore. "These partnerships encourage consumers to look for local brands, support our business partners, foster viable farming communities and help the campaign track demand for local foods. We’re proud of our first year.”

Individuals and businesses can sign up http://www.ncsu.edu/project/nc10percent/index.phpfor the campaign directly on the website and track their spending and growing power on a weekly basis through an online interactive dashboard.

The 10% Campaign website also has a number of resources, including an online directory of organizations working to help consumers find farmers and sources of locally grown foods.