HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-19-2021; 8-h - Resolution in Support of NCACC Presidential Initiative to Promote Food System Resiliency 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 19, 2021
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-h
SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of NCACC Presidential Initiative to Promote Food
System Resiliency
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution Commissioner Renee Price, 245-2130
Greg Wilder, 919-245-2300
PURPOSE: To consider a Resolution in Support of NCACC Presidential Initiative to Promote
Food System Resiliency.
BACKGROUND: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) President and
Martin County Commissioner Ronnie Smith is leading an initiative to address food system
resiliency in North Carolina during NCACC's 2020-21 year. The goal of the presidential initiative
is to identify ways counties can help ensure all North Carolinians have access to high-quality,
affordable food and local producers are able to help meet this need.
Counties are extensively involved in addressing food insecurity, particularly through their
departments of social services which administer the food and nutrition service programs for
families in need of assistance, public school systems that distribute meals to students and
cooperative extensions which are in every county and provide research-based knowledge and
educational programs enabling people to make practical decisions to improve their quality of life.
There are many aspects of the food delivery system that counties directly impact and influence.
Ensuring all residents have access to high-quality, affordable food contributes to the physical,
mental, and societal health of a community. Counties can work directly with food providers, create
pathways for partnerships and innovative solutions to increase food cultivation and distribution
and can provide financial, technical and other in-kind support for initiatives that are supporting
increased access to food systems. All of these efforts combined help build food system resiliency.
President Smith has convened a task force to identify ways counties can provide more food
resources and food security to their residents. Given the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic
on food delivery systems, this task force will be charged with providing a range of actions,
including short-term ideas and solutions that counties can undertake in real-time to immediately
address food security issues in their communities. The task force will release findings and
solutions after each convening so that counties can begin to work on this issue immediately. The
task force will compile the action steps they promote throughout the fall into a final report to serve
as a roadmap for counties utilize in developing their plans to address this critical issue.
2
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with consideration of the resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the resolution.
RES-2021-005
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 3
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NCACC PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE
TO PROMOTE FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCY
WHEREAS, access to food is a basic human need and is vital to the well-being of a community;
and
WHEREAS, all 100 North Carolina counties are committed to ensuring the needs of their residents
are met; and
WHEREAS, food security, defined as reliable access to quality, affordable food, is vital to a thriving
community and food insecurity threatens the fabric of a healthy society; and
WHEREAS, according to the annual Map the Meal Gap study by Feeding America, conducted to
improve understanding of food insecurity and food costs at the local level, the average food
insecurity rate across North Carolina is 14 percent, and Feeding America projects that the rate will
rise to 19.3 percent due to the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has a food insecurity rate of 10.8 percent, and this rate is predicted to
rise to 13.6 percent; and
WHEREAS, the current pandemic is further exacerbating the issue of food insecurity, and
households are facing difficult decisions in making ends meet; and
WHEREAS, the food insecurity rate in North Carolina is projected to rise to 19.3 percent due to the
pandemic and the child food insecurity rate is projected to rise from 19.3 percent to 28.6 percent;
and
WHEREAS, according to state officials, agriculture and agribusiness account for 17% of all jobs in
the state and an annual economic impact of $91.8 billion and is a vital aspect of the economy in
North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), under the direction
of President Ronnie Smith, is leading a task force to address food system resiliency to help counties
take actions to ensure that resources are getting to the people in need; and
WHEREAS, the NCACC Task Force will be meeting to examine the various issues that go into
creating and sustaining a resilient food system for North Carolina residents; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners jointly funds and participates in
the Orange County Food Council, whose mission is to grow a sustainable and equitable local food
system in Orange County, North Carolina, guided by values of a community-driven economy, food
access, inclusivity, racial equity, and sustainability; and
WHEREAS, by supporting our farmers, supply chains, agribusiness, food industry, and hungry
families, counties can help build resilient communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
does hereby resolve to support the work of the NCACC Task Force and will commit to examining
the food system in Orange County and take steps to work in partnership with the Orange County
Food Council and other local initiatives to further efforts that strengthen the system in the service of
sustaining a thriving community.
This the 19' day of January, 2021.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners