Overview of Local Food Systems
Online Professional Development Training
Collaborators
This professional development opportunity is the result of the collaborative advice and inputs from individuals at multiple universities, Extension professionals, government agencies and leaders, and farmers throughout the southeastern US. The design and development of the course has been guided by North Carolina Cooperative Extension and North Carolina State University.
Other Major Contributors
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Support for development of this online course has been provided in part by Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program, grant #ES13-119, in part by North Carolina State University, Office of Outreach & Engagement, and in part by the Extension Local Food Program Team.
Abbey Piner, CEFS
Becky Bowen, NCSU, CRD
Carlos Moses, NCCE, 4H
Dave Lamie, Clemson University
Davon Goodwin, SAIC
Debbie Hamrick, NC Farm Bureau
Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Jeff Bender, Bender Produce Farms
Jillian Mickens, Open Door Farm
Julius Tillery, Resourceful Communities
Karen Stanley, DHHS
Kathleen Liang, CEFS, NCA&TSU
Kelly Flynn, Clemson University
Kenrett Jefferson-Moore, NCA&TSU
Morgan McKnight, NCCE, FCS
Nancy Creamer, CEFS, NCSU
Susan Kelly, NCCE, CED, ANR/CRD
Thomas Moore, CFSA
Training Series Advisory Committee
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the training program content contributors.
Course 1 - Foundations in Local Food Systems Development
Aaron Newton, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm
Abbey Piner, CEFS
Dr. Alice Ammerman, UNC-Chapel Hill
Ben Street, Street Fare Farm
Caroline Stover, CEFS
Cody Hammel, Hammel Heritage Farms
Crystal Smith, NC Cooperative Extension, Warren County, NC
Dr. Dara Bloom, NC State University
Debbie Hamrick, NC Farm Bureau
Dr. Gabriel Cumming, Working Landscapes
Joanna Massey Lelekacs, NC State University
Dr. Lindsey Haynes- Maslow, NC State University
Marne Coit, J.D., NC State University
Dr. Michelle Eley, NC A&T State University
Scott Marlow, RAFI
Shorlette Ammons, CEFS
Sue Perry Cole, NC Association of Community Development Corporations
Dr. Susan Jakes, NC State University
Tessa Thraves, CEFS
Transplanting Traditions staff and participants including: Nicole Accordino, Kelly Owensby, Hikri Hay, Ree Ree, Hia Win, and Haw-La
Course 2 - Farm to Fork: Foundations in Local Food Supply & Value Chains
Annette Dunlap, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Barry Nash, NC Sea Grant
Dr. Dara Bloom, NC State University
Dr. Dave Lamie, Clemson University
Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Gary Bullen, NC State University
Jaclyn Mace, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
Jan Parson, Tourism Development Authority, Kinston, NC
Jeff Bender, Bender Farms
Joanna Massey Lelekacs, NC State University
Joe Otranto, Halifax County Schools
Dr. Gabriel Cumming, Working Landscapes
Kathleen Wood, Dig In! Yancey Community Garden
Dr. Leslie Hossfeld, Clemson University (formerly worked with Feast Down East through UNC-Wilmington)
Linda Rouse Sutton, County Commissioner, Lenoir County, NC
Pat Jenkins, Lenoir County Farmers Market
Dr. Rebecca Dunning, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University
Rob Hawk, NC Cooperative Extension, Jackson & Swain Counties
Tammy Kelly, NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County
Dr. Timothy Woods, University of Kentucky
Course 3 - The Bottom Line: Economic Realities & Other Considerations of Local Food Systems
Becky Bowen, NC State Extension, Cultivate NC
Dr. Becca Jablonski, Colorado State University
Caroline Hampton, formerly of Octopus Gardens Farm
Dr. Dara Bloom, NC State University
Dr. Dave Lamie, Clemson University
Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Eric Henry, TS Designs
Jay Cook, Carolina Farm Credit
Jillian and Ross Mickens, Open Door Farm
Joanna Massey Lelekacs, NC State University
Dr. Kathryn Boys, NC State University
Laura Lauffer, CEFS
Dr. Noah Ranells, NC State University (formerly with NC A&T)
Peter Callan, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Dr. Rebecca Hill, Colorado State University
Rick Larson, Natural Capital Investment Fund
Tami Schwerin, Abundance Foundation
Content Contributors
Other Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the generous support of North Carolina SARE for providing scholarships to select educator participants who piloted the course materials in 2016 and 2017. We would also like to thank the pilot participants for their time and excellent feedback. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of NC SARE again in 2018 and 2023 for their support of Extension professional scholarships. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the North Carolina Extension Local Food Program team in 2019 for their support of Extension professional scholarships.