Extension Local Food Program

Welcome to the Extension Local Food Program!

The main objective of this program is to "promote the production, marketing, and consumption of food grown and caught within North Carolina." On this page you will find a brief overview of services and programs offered through this program.

On This Page

Program Overview Extension Local Food Program Team Local Food System Professional Development Courses Technical Support Stay In Touch!

Program Overview

In 2012 Local Foods was named as N.C. Cooperative Extension's first Flagship Program. The Local Foods Program is a collaborative program of The Cooperative Extension Program of North Carolina A&T State University and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of North Carolina State University.

Learn more about our staff.

The Extension Local Food Program partners with many university and community partners across the state and nation to build capacity for local food systems.

Each County Cooperative Extension office and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has a designated Local Food Coordinator. Each month we highlight a Local Food Coordinator and the work they are involved in across the state! To check out all of our past spotlights click here.

Six-panel collage: people harvesting crops, livestock, NC Cooperative Extension booth, and portraits

To contact your area Local Food Coordinator, click on your county name or the EBCI from the County Centers website, and then click on the 'Local Foods' link listed under Agriculture & Food on the left-hand sidebar of the county Extension web page.

Extension Local Food Program Team

The Local Food Program Team brings together county agents and campus specialists to create training and resources to build capacity for supporting local food systems in Extension across the state.

Red banner "LFPT MISSION": NC Cooperative Extension supports community-based food systems

LFPT VISION: extension team partners with NC communities, producers, businesses and consumers

Bold uppercase text "LFPT WORKGROUPS" centered on a white background

There are currently seven workgroups made up of agents and specialists from all areas of the state and both NC State and N.C. A&T State Universities.

GROWING FARM CAPACITY: provides education and resources for new and beginning farmers across state

LOCAL FOOD PREPARATION - resources and education to teach extension professionals and public

Banner reading YOUTH (K-12) PROGRAMS and smaller text about ag, FCS, and 4-H agents providing farm-to-fork food programming

Strawberries with overlaid text: FARM TO SCHOOL — "(AGES 5-18) provides training and resources"

FOOD SECURITY — engages with extension and community partners to increase local food resources

FARM TO EARLY CARE & EDUCATION (AGES BIRTH–6): connects children and families with local food and farms

Blueberries background, headline "ECONOMIC IMPACT" and subtext about providing education, training, and statewide resources

Contact Hannah Dankbar if you are interested in joining the team or any of the work groups listed above.

Find out more about the Program Team resources and impacts in our Annual Report. You can also learn about plans for upcoming years in our Strategic Report. We also have a Local Food Program Team Overview that shares all about the expectations for being on the team, how we make decisions as a team, and much more!

Local Food Professional Development Courses

The Overview of Local Food Systems Training Program offers three self-paced courses to develop foundational skills and knowledge for food systems work.

FOUNDATIONS OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT text over a blurred green field

Lettuce field with text: FARM TO FORK: FOUNDATIONS IN LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY AND VALUE CHAINS

The three courses offered are: These courses are offered once per year. Extension Agents can also enroll in a graduate course through the Agriculture Extension and Education program at NC State University to receive credit for this course.

For more information about either option, contact Hannah Dankbar.

Technical Support

Group of people gathered at outdoor market tents, woman in green dress holding plants

Extension Specialists housed in different programs and departments are available to answer any and all local food questions! We can provide answers to questions, point you towards resources, provide facilitation for meetings, help develop projects, provide evaluation for programs, and anything else you have! Contact Hannah Dankbar for assistance.Stay In Touch!

Centered bold uppercase text: "STAY IN TOUCH!"

There are a number of ways to stay in touch with the Extension Local Food Program:

Subscribe to weekly email updates.
Follow us on Facebook - Local Food - N.C. Cooperative Extension and Instagram - @localfoodncstate
Extension staff can join an internal listserv by emailing Hannah Dankbar.

Three desktop monitors showing a local food website, a social media post, and an email window

We also have a few other email lists you can subscribe to.

Written By

Hannah Dankbar Local Food Program Manager