Food Policy Councils

Food Councils actively support local government in policy- and systems-level work to re-structure local and regional economies around an overarching vision of a just, healthy, and sustainable food system. Though food councils have existed since the 1980s, recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in their numbers. The Orange County Board of Commissioners defunded the Food Council in Orange County in December 2022. To learn more, contact Bill Kearney at bill_kearney@unc.edu or Molly DeMarco at molly_demarco@unc.edu.

More than 35 food councils now exist across North Carolina covering 40 of the 100 counties. These food councils are mostly organized by county, and some are more regional. To find a NC local Food Council near you, CLICK HERE.