Food Council Seeks Members Interested in Economic Development

April 20, 2010 – Cabarrus County is seeking community members who have an interest in healthy lifestyles, in the safe production and dissemination of food and in economic development to serve on a newly created Cabarrus County Food Policy Council. This Food Policy Council will help to identify and strengthen the connections between economic development, food, health, natural resource protection and the agricultural community. This group will be charged with performing research, educating the community, developing strategies and making policy recommendations that will encourage the development of a robust, sustainable local food economy as well as a healthier population.

Food Policy Council members will be appointed by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners from a pool of applicants. In making appointments, Commissioners will seek representation from the following professions and perspectives: business or economic development, farming, nutrition, education, emergency food systems, health care, food services, food manufacturers and distributors, waste management, research, land use planning, grocery, human services, and concerned citizens. Members can either live or work in Cabarrus County and will serve without compensation. Appointments are expected to be made in May 2010.

The creation of the Cabarrus County Food Policy Council is part of a new movement in North Carolina to build a statewide local food system that will supply the majority of local food needs, provide more access to fresh foods and increase the safety of our foods. The effort also can protect open space, decrease the use of fossil fuels and protect our environment by relying less on food shipped here from across the country. As part of this effort summits have been held across the state to collect input and ideas.

In addition, the North Carolina Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council formed several months ago to develop an action plan to aid the North Carolina General Assembly in building a local food economy with the intention of creating jobs, stimulating statewide economic development, circulating money from local food sales within local communities, preserving open space, decreasing the use of fossil fuel and reducing carbon emissions, preserving and protecting the natural environment, increasing consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and providing greater food security for all North Carolinians. There is a state vision for every county in North Carolina to have a food council.

To apply to serve on the County Food Policy Council, download the application form. For more details, call the Cabarrus County Manager’s Office at 704-920-2100 or log on to www.cabarruscounty.us/sustainability/food.html.