Farm to Senior Services – Food Systems Internships

Learn about community-based food systems and help build local food value chains between local farmers and regional, institutional markets. Learn about county-based senior food services, rural farming systems, food council networks, and national local food metrics. Join us for a 10-week paid summer food systems internship experience at one of three local food hub host sites in North Carolina, including a tour of diverse agroecosystems across the state. Participants will be paid $15/hour. Travel to host sites and housing is not included.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and North Carolina Cooperative Extension are collaborating on a Farm to Senior Services (F2SS) project to pilot models in three counties (McDowell, Scotland, and Warren) that will increase local food procurement in county-based senior food services. Senior food services vary but may include home food delivery (such as Meals on Wheels), congregate meals sites, or produce box delivery programs. These services provide healthy, fresh foods to a growing older adult population that often experiences high levels of food insecurity and diet-related chronic diseases (such as diabetes).  McDowell, Scotland, and Warren counties were selected as pilots for this project based on their geographic variation, existence of established food councils, existence of area local food intermediaries, and USDA designation as low income/low access areas. The local food pathway models and best practices established in these counties will be shared across the state and nationwide.

Internship Dates: May 22 – July 28, 2023

Apply

Applications are not currently being accepted for the Farm to Senior Services – Food Systems Internship.

Internship Overview

For Summer 2023, we are looking for student interns, interested in agriculture and local food supply chains and systems, to work at the partnering local food intermediaries (Foothills Food Hub, Sandhills AgInnovation Center, and Working Landscapes) to support the testing, implementation, and evaluation of the F2SS local food pathways.

Examples of food systems intern projects include:

  • Farmer outreach
  • Senior food service requirements and procurement practices
  • Procurement data collection
  • Distribution routes and logistics
  • Recipe and cost analysis for senior meals
  • Senior food box program development
  • Online order systems
  • Customer outreach and relationship building
  • Social media and website management
  • Policy around senior service food procurement

Interns will be paid $15/hr for 40hrs/wk for 10 weeks (May 22 – July 28, 2023).

Up to 3 Available Summer Internship Opportunities:

Foothills Food Hub (FFH) is a central hub in Marion, North Carolina, serving farmers in McDowell County and surrounding areas to connect with wholesale markets. The Foothills Food Hub currently offers aggregation, packing, and distribution services. As the onsite facilities grow, the Hub will include: washing, packing, cold storage, and distribution services; as well as a commercial kitchen, value-added processing, entrepreneur development, and additional classes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FFH has received funding to create produce boxes for food insecure families, including senior residents in the community.

Preference will be given to students that meet the following criteria:

  1. A current graduate student from a university near FFH
  2. A resident of Western North Carolina
  3. Experience with technology and online platforms
  4. Good communication skills and self-motivated
  5. Respect for farmers and rural communities
  6. Comfortable driving a box truck. Experience not required, but willingness to learn.

The Sandhills AgInnovation Center (SAIC) is a produce aggregator and processor located in Ellerbe, NC, serving farmers throughout south central NC. The SAIC offers cooler and light processing space, provides technical assistance to farmers, and connects Sandhills farmers to new markets and resources. As a COVID-related response, the SAIC has received funding to create produce boxes for food insecure families, including senior households in the community. Other outlets for farmers using SAIC facilities include universities, hospitals, and restaurants.

Preference will be given to students that meet the following criteria:

  1. A current undergraduate or graduate student at UNC Pembroke or North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  2. First-hand experience with agriculture
  3. A resident of the Sandhills region
  4. Respect for farmers and rural communities

Join our small, dynamic team working to build more robust food value chains between local farmers and regional, institutional markets for food.  Located in the heart of downtown Warrenton, Working Landscapes is a leader in value-added production; we operate the ByWay Foods Hub which focuses on value-added products and the development of farm-to-institution food systems. In response to the pandemic, Working Landscapes began producing healthy, locally sourced meals from scratch for distribution to seniors facing food insecurity via the Warren County Senior Center. This program is continuing, and we are working to expand its scope.

Preference will be given to students that meet the following criteria:

  1. Proficient in Excel and able to learn new computer programs
  2. Able to lift, carry, and move boxes of food around in coolers/freezer
  3. Able to make progress on projects without constant supervision
  4. Professional communication and a good sense of humor
  5. Experience working with a small team

Relevant Skills

  • Website design and development using user-friendly website builders with mobile compatible sites with no coding required 
  • Social media platforms
  • Internet-based graphic design platform
  • Strong marketing and communication skills
  • Familiarity or willingness to learn about online sales platforms
  • Preferred experience/study in agriculture, food systems, ag business or economics
  • Preference given to students who live or attend school in communities in close proximity to the host organization of their choice

Requirements for Interns

  • Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program at any North Carolina university, college, or community college
  • Enthusiasm for local foods and a respect for farmers and producers from diverse rural communities
  • Must attend an orientation on May 22, 2023
  • Must hold a drivers license and have access to transportation to the host site

Program Components

Activities will be organized into four main program elements including:

  1. Introductory “Diverse Communities and Agriculture across NC” Tours: Two 2-day farm tours and other day trips visiting various agroecosystems and communities throughout NC. These tours are important for students to understand the unique agricultural challenges facing diverse producers and communities across NC and the role of cooperative extension. This tour is tentatively scheduled to happen in person. Due to COVID concerns and precautions, we will re-assess closer to the date and determine if a virtual option is needed.
  2. Mentorship and hands-on job training: Each student will be matched with a host site and mentor. Mentors will oversee the student on a day-to-day basis, as well as mentor the student in a specific summer project.
  3. Professional skills development and agriculture career exploration: All students will participate in professional development activities throughout the summer. These professional development activities will likely include: leadership training, racial equity, understanding agriculture career pathways, and networking opportunities.
  4. Professional presentation opportunity: Students will be required to give a professional presentation of their summer project and experiences at the conclusion of the internship.

Background of CEFS

CEFS envisions a future of vibrant farms, resilient ecosystems, strong communities, healthy people, and thriving local economies. CEFS is one of the nation’s most important centers for research, extension, and education in sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems. It is recognized as a national and international leader in the local foods movement, and celebrated for its work in building consensus around policies, programs and actions that facilitate a vibrant local food economy.

CEFS was born from the shared conviction that a land-grant-university-based research, education, and extension program focused on organic and sustainable agriculture could have a significant and essential impact in North Carolina.

These internship opportunities are supported by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Local Food Promotion Program (grant no. AM200100XXXXG135) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.