CFSA’s FarmsSHARE program is an innovative, partnerships-based initiative improving livelihoods for small and mid-scale farms and pioneering local food distribution structures that break through the barriers under-resourced communities face in accessing nutritious foods.
Through FarmsSHARE, CFSA provides funding to partner hubs to purchase locally grown and locally produced foods from farmers at a fair market value. The hubs then distribute the food at no cost to households in communities with high rates of food insecurity through community-based organizations.
A Statewide Model for Strengthening Local Food Systems and Advancing Nutrition Security: FarmsSHARE 2024 Evaluation
The below report (view in separate tab) and corresponding executive summary (view in separate tab) are the result of a multi-year research study led by Appalachian State University in partnership with Resourceful Communities. The study was designed to evaluate local food systems initiatives, with a focus on understanding the impact of community-based food programs on farms, food hubs, and program recipients. This project was supported by funding from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services through the LFPA cooperative agreement with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
Complete Report
Executive Summary
“FarmsSHARE means a lot to our farmers for the simple fact that we provide them with a secure market channel, and they have the ability to scale up production.”
– Davon Goodwin, Sandhills AgInnovation Center Executive Director
We’re tackling food insecurity, promoting economic vitality, and building inclusive, locally-driven food systems at every step of the food value chain.
How it Works
1. CFSA receives public and private funding for FarmsSHARE.
2. CFSA distributes funding to participating food hubs across NC.
3. Food hubs use the funding to buy produce, dairy, and eggs from small-scale, local farms at a competitive price.
4. Food hubs assemble CSA-style food boxes using the farm-fresh food.
5. Local organizations pick up and distribute the food boxes in their communities.
6. Food-insecure households receive the boxes and eat local at no cost.
FarmsSHARE relies on public and private funding to sustain and grow our network of impact across North Carolina.
“FarmsSHARE increases the sales and visibility of our local farmers, helping curate economic sustainability and growth of their farms. Creating sales outlets such as this for our farmers has further uplifted our food system and closed the gaps in the loop between farmers and food access causes.”
-Jordyn Appel-Hughes, Feast Down East Executive Director
Health Affairs 2025 Analysis
FarmsSHARE Program History
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and food service companies that buy from local farmers suspended service and laid off thousands of workers. As a result, many small farms lost income from restaurant sales that helped keep their farms viable. In response, CFSA obtained key funding to launch the project from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation).
To connect farms and hospitality workers, and to ensure everyone along the supply chain got paid fairly, CFSA used the funding to develop a network of food hubs, farms, and farmer cooperatives to aggregate in-season, locally-produced foods to distribute over 20,000 boxes to laid-off restaurant and hospitality employees. CFSA received additional financial support for the FarmsSHARE pilot program from Whole Foods, Cardinal Healthcare, Duke University’s Office Durham and Community Affairs, Carolina Farm Credit and Xylem Watermark, Xylem’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program as well as many individual supporters.
As restaurants and food businesses continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, CFSA has remained nimble in providing fresh food where it is most needed: as of 2022, participating food hubs distribute their food boxes directly to community partners of all kinds, including nonprofits, schools, and churches, and the food-insecure households they serve.
FarmsSHARE is seeding change for farms, food, and community wellbeing. Join our cause:
“FarmsSHARE allows Freshlist the financial means to do the food equity work we want to do as a company. Healthy food should be a right, not a privilege. Farms should also be paid as much as possible for all of the food that they grow. This program is a wonderful melding of those two schools of thought. The same high-quality food we sell into fine dining restaurants and homes is going to feed families in areas of our city that have been shut out of the means and access to healthy food. The FarmsSHARE program also allows farmers in our network the flexibility to grow for the boxes just like they would their own CSA with the knowledge that the product has a home.”
– Erin Bradley, Freshlist Director of Operations and Farm Coordinator
FarmsSHARE Frequently Asked Questions
- I’m a farmer. How do I sell to one of the food hubs?
- See which participating food hubs are near you and get in touch with them directly.
- I’m a food hub. How do I get involved?
- Let us know! We have a set number of food hubs that we can work with at once, so while we cannot make any guarantees, we’re always happy to hear from you.
- How can I volunteer to help distribute local food boxes?
- See our network map (above) and get in direct contact with the organizations closest to you.
- Can I make a gift to power this work?
- Absolutely! Anyone is welcome to make a donation at anytime. If you prefer to talk over your options, let us know, and our Development Team is happy to get in touch.
Page content last reviewed and updated 8/13/2026.
