by Lynn S. Caldwell

A recent study reports that FarmsSHARE, a statewide initiative of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), is “one of North Carolina’s  most successful and trusted strategies for a stronger local food economy.” By connecting local growers, food hubs, and community partners, FarmsSHARE delivers nutritious food to households who need access to fresh food the most. 

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 during their pilot program. 

“FarmsSHARE demonstrates that when North Carolina invests in its farmers and local food systems, we strengthen our economy, our communities, and our health,” says CFSA Executive Director Roland McReynolds. ”This is a model that works, and that deserves to be sustained.”

Here are some key findings from the report: 

• Four-and-a-half million dollars were invested in North Carolina’s food system, directing $3 million to 312 farms across 77 counties, including 40 farms in the Charlotte region. There was an estimated $7.9 million total economic impact generated by that spending. 

• Eighteen regional food hubs were supported to expand farm partnerships and provide reliable markets, including Charlotte-based Freshlist. 

• One hundred and thirty-eight community-based organizations across the state were strengthened by financial infusions, reaching thousands more households statewide. Local non-profit organizations that did distributions of FarmsSHARES boxes included Hearts and Hands Food Pantry, Refugee Support Services, QC Family Tree, Freedom Communities, and A Brighter Day Ministry. 

• One million+ pounds of local food was distributed in 112,216 healthy food boxes across the state. Freshlist packed over 19,000 boxes containing 214,000 pounds of food sourced from the farmers in North and South Carolina for this round of FarmsSHARE. 

• Access to fresh food was expanded, improving the social determinants of health: nutrition access, community connection, and economic stability. 

“FarmsSHARE allows Freshlist the financial means to do the food equity work we want to do as a company,” says Erin Bradley, Freshlist Director of Farmer Relations and Social Impact. “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.” 

FarmsSHARE’s primary funding from 2023 to 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 was terminated as of March 10, 2025 because of reductions in government funding for multiple USDA programs, the evidence from North Carolina indicates purchasing food locally with public dollars combined with private funding from organizations like Blue Cross Blue Shield delivers strong economic, social, and health returns. 

More statistics worth noting: 

• Ninety-one percent of farmers and 100% of food hubs increased direct revenue. 

• Community-based organizations increased their reach with fresh food distribution, often by more than 10 times. 

• Ninety-two percent of food recipients reported better nutrition and appreciated the access to fresh local food from trusted organizations. 

By leveraging partnerships between farmers, food hubs, and community-based organizations, FarmsSHARE: 

• Created reliable, fair markets for small and medium-scale farms, particularly in seasons when direct to consumer sales lag. 

• Kept food dollars circulating within North Carolina communities. 

• Strengthened rural infrastructure and workforce capacity. 

The success of this program showcases North Carolina as a leader in building resilient regional food networks and provides a model for other communities to adopt. FarmsSHARE’s coordinated structure and community food web provides a blueprint to be replicated in other states 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, CFSA and the FarmsSHARE network are advocating for non-recurring funding in the state budget to ensure stability for farmers and communities. They are requesting a $4 million appropriation over two years ($2 million per year) to continue delivering measurable economic, social, and health benefits across North Carolina. The funding is meant to sustain statewide coordination through CFSA, invest in infrastructure such as cold storage and logistics to expand local capacity, and work towards integrating local food into state health and nutrition programs for the benefit of local farms, food hubs, and consumers. As always, you can make your voice heard by contacting your state representative.