Visioning Our Food Future

Who We Are

Community members in Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties teamed up with a research team from North Carolina (NC) State University between 2022 and 2024 to create a food system assessment and strategic plan for the region.

Over 400 community members were engaged through interviews, surveys, and over 20 community events and meetings. This community-driven process has identified and prioritized strategies to develop a resilient food system that can sustain a thriving local food economy and equitable access to healthy food for all.

Our Food System Goals

What Are We Striving For

Community Based Food Systems

Where and Why

Counties in North Carolina

Bladen

Bladen County is a large rural County with a wealth of lakes and other natural resources. The county is ranked 72 in population in the state, with older adults (65+ years old) making up nearly 25% of the population. Communities spread across six small towns and commerce is centered in the Elizabethtown-White Lake area. With around 5% of the county in agriculture, there are over 400 farms, including many diversified small and mid-scale farms and a high number of concentrated animal operations, industrial food processing, and textile manufacturing.

Columbus

Columbus County is a large rural county in the coastal plains, with a rich diversity of flora and fauna found in the river, lake, and the Green Swamp ecosystems. The county population ranks 51 in the state, rich with racial and cultural diversity, including the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe. There are eleven main communities with Whiteville being the hub for commerce and Lake Waccamaw being a recreational and cultural treasure. The county has nearly 450 farms and 125 thousand acres in produce, crops, pasture, and woodland. Agriculture is a main industry along with industrial paper manufacturing.

Robeson

Robeson County is the largest county in the state, containing many miles of the black waters of the Lumber River. The county is also the most racially-diverse county in the state, with around 25% of the population under 18 years old. The Lumbee Tribe, other indigenous tribes, and other people of color take pride in their cultural events and history of resilience. Agriculture is important with around 730 farms and 263 thousand acres in production or woodlands. There is a mix of small produce farms, cropland, woodland, and industrial poultry operations, and there is a large presence of the global food manufacturing industry.

Key Food System Strategies

How Community Envisions Resiliency?

Community Members Engaged

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Farm Apprentices Provided

Food System Internships Facilitated

In grant Dollars directly Invested into Community Partners And Organizations

$ 0

Statistics

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Community Members Engaged

0 +

Farm Apprentices Provided

Food System Internships Facilitated

In grant Dollars directly Invested into Community Partners And Organizations

$ 0

Stories of Resilience

Inspiring Community Stories

Storytelling is important to many cultures to share their history and values, and to connect different generations. In research, storytelling is also important as it can give context to larger narratives through personal experiences and highlight assets that are often overlooked. These stories celebrate resilience and we hope they can inspire others to take action in their community.

Generational Ways of Knowing

September 10, 2024 No Comments

” In my childhood, I remember when catnip was used to soothe stomach aches, tobacco to relieve bee stings….

Heart of the Community

December 4, 2024 No Comments

Nestled on 100 acres of fertile land in Pembroke, NC, Locklear Farms has been a staple of resilience and community spirit for

When and What's Next?

Spring 2022

Community Interest Meetings

Community Interest Meetings held with 46 area farms, Cooperative Extension, community organizations, and local government from 3 counties expressed how the strategic plan could support their work.

Fall 2022

Farmer Interviews

16 BIPOC farmers interviewed on their roles in local food system, interests in diversified agribusinesses models, and their constraints to success

Nov 2022 - Jun 2024

Community Advisory Committee

Community Advisory Committee of 7 community members formed and met on a monthly basis to advice research methods and questions, to review documents for context and appropriate wording, and to offer network connections with community members and organizations already doing great food system work.

Upcoming Events

📍Developing a Southeast Regional Food Council

Inviting community members of Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson Counties to share your ideas for a Southeast Regional Food Council and how it can support the needs and strengths of our communities.