FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (919) 542-2402
FARMSSHARE EMERGES AS PROVEN STATEWIDE MODEL FOR STRENGTHENING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND ADVANCING NUTRITION SECURITY
PITTSBORO, NC, JAN. 7, 2026 – A multi-year evaluation has found that FarmsSHARE, a statewide initiative of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) that has been running since 2020, is one of North Carolina’s most successful and trusted strategies for strengthening the local food economy and addressing nutrition insecurity. By connecting local growers, food hubs, and community partners, FarmsSHARE delivers fresh, locally grown food to households facing food insecurity.
The evaluation, led by Appalachian State University and Resourceful Communities in collaboration with CFSA, found that FarmsSHARE generated measurable economic and community health benefits across the state.
“FarmsSHARE demonstrates that when North Carolina invests in its farmers and local food systems, we strengthen our economy, our communities, and our health,” said CFSA Executive Roland McReynolds. “This is a model that works, and that deserves to be sustained.”
2024 FarmsSHARE Impacts at a Glance
- $4.5 million invested in North Carolina’s food system, including $3 million directly to 312 farms across 77 counties; estimated $7.9 million total local economic impact generated
- 18 regional food hubs supported to expand farm partnerships and reliable markets
- 138 community-based organizations strengthened, reaching thousands more households statewide
- 1 million+ pounds of local food distributed in 112,216 healthy food boxes
- Expanded access to fresh food, improving the social determinants of health: nutrition access, community connection, and economic stability
Local Food Purchasing: A Proven Strategy for Economic and Community Impact
FarmsSHARE funding in 2023-2025 came from the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance cooperative agreement program (LFPA) in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Although the LFPA program has concluded, the evidence from North Carolina is clear: purchasing food locally with public dollars delivers strong economic, social, and health returns.
- 91% of farmers and 100% of food hubs increased direct revenue
- Community-based organizations increased their reach, many more than 10x
- 92% of food recipients reported better nutrition and food security status
All stakeholders consistently identified FarmsSHARE as the “best choice” – the most effective, trusted, and impactful model – creating a snowball effect of growth and productivity.
By leveraging partnerships between farmers, food hubs, and community-based organizations, FarmsSHARE:
- Created reliable, fair markets for small and medium-scale farms
- Kept food dollars circulating within North Carolina communities
- Strengthened rural infrastructure and workforce capacity
A rural Western NC farmer shared that, thanks to FarmsSHARE, he could hire an apprentice, allowing them to double the farm’s operational capacity, serve more customers, and invest in new infrastructure. “So [FarmsSHARE] really set us up for this exponential growth.”
This model illustrates that local decision-making drives local benefit, positioning North Carolina as a leader in building resilient regional food networks.
FarmsSHARE’s coordinated structure, which links statewide leadership with regional food hubs and community-based organizations, provides a blueprint for achieving equitable food access and resilient local economies.
“This is a critical moment for North Carolina to continue leading,” said CFSA Policy Director Matt Kneece. “The data from FarmsSHARE shows that locally directed food purchasing is not only effective, it’s essential for resilient rural economies and healthy communities.”
Looking Ahead: Next Steps for North Carolina Stakeholders
CFSA and the FarmsSHARE network are advocating for non-recurring funding in the state budget to ensure stability for farmers and communities, requesting a $4 million appropriation over two years ($2 million per year) to continue delivering measurable economic, social, and health benefits across North Carolina. This will sustain statewide coordination through CFSA, invest in infrastructure (cold storage, aggregation, and logistics) to expand local capacity, and work towards integrating local food into state health and nutrition programs.
- For the full Evaluation Report, click here.
- For the Evaluation Report Executive Summary, click here.
- FarmsSHARE Website: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/farmsshare/
About Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: Founded in 1979, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) is a farmer-driven, membership-based nonprofit organization advancing small farms and local food systems in the Carolinas through technical assistance, education, and advocacy initiatives. Visit the CFSA website: https://carolinafarmstewards.org/
About Appalachian State University, Amanda Hege, MPH, RDN, FAND: Amanda serves as a faculty member at Appalachian State University whose research focuses on community-based population health initiatives that address food insecurity and local food access. Her work examines how partnerships between public health, healthcare, and local food systems can improve nutrition security and health outcomes. A Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hege brings extensive experience in program evaluation, policy, and systems-level strategies to advance access to healthy foods.
About Resourceful Communities: For the last 30 years, Resourceful Communities has worked alongside a network of 300+ grassroots organizations, churches and small towns to generate economic, environmental and social justice benefits for rural North Carolina. Our effective combination of direct support, skills building and connections to resources nurtures real change where it’s needed the most. Visit our website: www.legacyworksgroup.com/resourcefulcommunities
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