The Forsyth Community Food Consortium
The December 2014 Issue

   

Building Relationships

 

Fostering Connections

 

Raising Awareness

 

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A Big Heart for Local Food

Angie Johnson was waiting for me that chilly afternoon, when I drove up to the Good Food Growers Market in Kernersville.  Big Rooster was right there too, just as proud as he was on opening day.  Just as he should be, even though Angie had announced that she was closing her store at the end of the year.  I wanted to see it again before the doors closed forever.

 

Last time I'd visited, tomato season was just at peak.  The shop was full of color.  Angie's customers could choose from her rich selection of locally grown produce from all the area growers she bought from.  Good Food Growers market was dedicated to offering the best of the best locally grown or produced goods:  A one-stop place for food products planted, picked or processed by hands right here.   

 

The tomatoes were long gone when I visited that afternoon.  But sweet potatoes, squash, honey and a more subtle rainbow of canned goods were still in plenty.  A cozy, old-fashioned propane burner warmed the corner where Angie and I settled into overstuffed chairs to chat. 

 

"I opened the store because I'm passionate about good food," Angie said.  "And I learned so much from all my vendors about what makes food good."  Angie's enthusiasm was catching.   We didn't dwell on the financials that drove her decision - except to observe that her commitment to fair payment for producers gave her even thinner margins when it came to pricing goods for sale at her store.  And it takes sales to keep doors open. 

 

Local dollars are what keep a local business alive.  That's not rocket science.  But here's the real magic: A thriving community of locally owned businesses also means more local dollars for everyone in that community.   And it isn't really magic.  It's called the "Multiplier Effect", and it's been well documented.

 

Locally owned businesses do more to increase the number of dollars in their local economy than chains and big-box retailers. Research by the Chicago based Civic Economics consultancy found that  $68 of every $100 spent in local businesses stayed in the local economy compared with $43 for chains. It also found that every square foot occupied by a local business generated $179 dollars of economic activity, compared to $105 for chains. 

 

Maybe the multiplier effect explains the size of that rooster in front of Angie's store.  Like everything else Angie chose, he too was made by a local artist.  

 

We'll all miss the Good Food Grower's Market.  But for me, that big rooster stands for something.  He's going to help me remember the impact my dollars have when I choose local, and the magic of the multiplier effect.

 

Good job, Angie.  You and Rooster have a lot to crow about.


 

Contributed by Ann Bliss, FCFC Advisory Council Member

 

Celebrating our local food system and those brave hearts building it - that's the Consortium's promise and its work.  Join us, and discover how you can help.  Information about our Action Teams can be found at our website.


The 10% Campaign
Make the choice. Make a difference. Make it local

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is committed to building North Carolina's sustainable local food economy. Through its Farm to Fork initiative and action guide, CEFS has energized and connected thousands of North Carolinians and hundreds of local, regional and statewide organizations that share this commitment.

The goal of the 10% Campaign is straightforward: Encourage consumers to commit 10 percent of their existing food dollars to support local food producers, related businesses and communities.

Support neighborhood entrepreneurs like Angie Johnson and Join the 10% Campaign today!
Fostering Connections
Blogging, Tweeting and Making Friends

A broad network of diverse relationships is essential to expanding our local food system. The Forsyth Community Food Consortium seeks to engage the many and unique voices that make up our community. To that end,FCFC is building an online network of support. You can join us on Facebook and Twitter to read articles about local food, get tips on how to strengthen our food system and connect with other food activists, entrepreneurs and stakeholders.Our Twitter handle is @forsythfood. You can also connect through the links on our website.

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The North Carolina Local Food Forum
A Successful State-Wide Gathering 

Network building, socializing, creative insight sharing, delicious food and a graphic artist, all features of the first state-wide gathering of local food councils. The Local Food Council of North Carolina (LFCNC) convened representatives from the state's regional and local food councils in Winston-Salem on December 4th and 5th for the Connecting for the Future conference. Delegates from the Forsyth Community Food Consortium are blogging about their experiences at our website.

We would especially like to thank Advisory Council member Marcus Hill and the local volunteers who coordinated with LFCNC staff members to make this a resoundingly successful event.
 

 

Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendars

Making the Most of Your Market
A workshop 
sponsored 
by ASAP and RAFI
Thursday, January 8th, 2015
9:00am - 2:30pm

This workshop will cover strategies, efforts and best practices to enhance at-market & CSA sales (with special attention given to SNAP initiatives) by increasing sales to existing customers, improving customer retention and expanding the customer base. Registration is $10, which includes lunch. Register today!
 

Hunger Solutions Webinar Series
North Carolina Campuses Against Hunger is hosting a three-part webinar series to explore ways to solve the problem of hunger in our state. Recordings and resources are available here


The Local Food Networking Forum
Tuesday, January 13th, 2015
1:00 - 2:00pm
Forsyth County Cooperative Extension, 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, NC 

This Forum is an opportunity for community members to learn about the work of FCFC and to join the conversation as we build a more vibrant food system. 

 
4th Annual Piedmont Grown Conference
Monday, February 23rd, 2015
8:30am - 5:00pm

Join Piedmont Grown farmers, farmers market mangers, and local food entrepreneurs  to promote local farm products and ag tourism opportunities across the 37 counties in the Piedmont Region. 
Learn how to expand your farm to fork business from other farmers and food entrepreneurs. Registration information coming soon. 


Permaculture
Are you interested in designing sustainable, edible landscapes? Consider learning more about permaculture. Visit ashevillage.org or become certified in permaculture fundamentals and design. 



Come to the Table Conference 
Thursday, February 26th, 2015
Elon Community Church 
271 N. Williamson Ave. Elon, NC


This regional conference brings members of faith communities together with farmers, gardeners, farm workers, educators, health professionals and community organizers to find ways to relieve hunger and support local agriculture. Register today


Pashon Murray: Food, Faith and the Green Jobs Movement
Thursday, March 19th, 2015
7:00 - 9:00pm
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center,
Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus

This lecture by Pashon Murray, founder of Detroit Dirt: Urban Renewal From the Ground Up, is co-sponsored by the Forsyth Community Food Consortium and the Wake Forest Universiy School of Divinity's Food, Faith and Religious Leadership Initiative

Upside: Anything is Possible
Upside: Anything is Possible

 


The Forsyth Community Food Consortium is supported by a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation.  Our fiscal sponsor is the Winston-Salem Sustainability Resource Center.

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