RALEIGH (July 15, 2020) — Dr. Dara Bloom was recently named (Interim) Assistant Director of Community Based Food Systems at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), effective July 1, 2020. Dr. Dara Bloom, is a Local Foods Extension Specialist and Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. At NC State University, [...]
Like so many others, CEFS initiatives and research units have been impacted by COVID-19. Staff and affiliated faculty have adapted quickly to the new environment and are continuing their programming and research projects in compliance with social distancing guidelines. CEFS developed a COVID-19 portal (cefs.ncsu.edu/covid-19) to share news and announcements related to CEFS COVID-19 work, [...]
Paid student apprenticeships with area food and farm businesses are now open for applications from WNC students. The apprenticeship program is part of the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project in the seven western counties of North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The Mountain Food & Farm Apprenticeship Program [...]
The crowd gathers at the CEFS Research Farm in Goldsboro On a perfect fall day, several hundred people gather around Ray Archuleta and Steve Woodruff of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. They are intently watching a rainfall simulator demonstrate what happens when rain falls on agricultural soils that have been managed in different [...]
Grand Sponsor Sustaining Sponsors Supporting Sponsors Biltmore Estate Nash Produce USDA-NRCS Steward Sponsor Mt. Olive Pickle Co. Guardian Sponsors Goldsboro Wayne Co. Travel & Tourism NC Blueberry [...]
With leadership from NC Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), CEFS is embarking on a new university/community collaboration to address structural racism and inequities in our food system. The developing initiative will build on lessons learned from CEFS' community-based programs in Goldsboro and around the state, prioritizing youth access to food, jobs, careers, and [...]
Researchers at CEFS have received three separate grants totaling more than $2.5 million since July 2014 to support research and education at CEFS' 2000-acre research farm in Goldsboro and on farms across the state. In September, CEFS researchers were awarded $1,415,833 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture [...]
"Building a network of networks" In 2008 and 2009, CEFS convened hundreds of food system stakeholders from across the state in "Farm to Fork", a groundbreaking exploration of action opportunities for building a local, sustainable food system. The initiative produced a statewide action guide identifying "game changer" strategies for transforming North Carolina's food system, From [...]
Eva Clayton Eva Clayton made history in November 1992 when she became the first woman elected to Congress from the State of North Carolina, and the first African American since 1901. Congresswoman Clayton represented the First Congressional District in North Carolina from 1992 to 2003. She served in various positions of leadership including: President [...]
Nestled in the agricultural heart of North Carolina, Gaston County schools are attempting to source 10% of their produce locally. Students love the addition of fresh, local strawberries and watermelons to their menu, but how about collards? Collards in the Cafeteria follows the journey of this nutrient-rich leafy green from the fields to the county's [...]
