Southeastern NC – Food Systems Internships

Learn about community-based food systems and help build local food value chains in NC’s rural communities of Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties. Learn about micro-entrepreneurship development within the food system economy and storytelling as a method of community-based participatory research. Join us for a 10-week paid summer food systems internship experience at a host site in Bladen, Columbus, or Robeson counties. The internship includes a tour of diverse agroecosystems across the state, networking with other food system interns and professionals, and multiple professional development opportunities. Participants will be paid $15/hour. Residents local to Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties are encouraged. Travel to host sites and housing is not included.

Community members in Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties are teaming up with a research and facilitation team from NC State University and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) to create a food system assessment and plan for the region. Learn more about the project.

Interns will be hired for Summer 2023 to support this project.

Internship Dates: May 22 – July 28, 2023

Internship Overview

Examples of food systems intern projects include:

• More details coming soon!

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

Up to 3 Available Summer Internship Opportunities:

Location of the host sites: Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties

Relevant Skills

• More details coming soon!

Requirements for Interns

• The internship is open to all students as long as they can commute to the host sites.
• More details coming soon!

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 reassess 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 Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.