August 2014 – NCGT is sponsoring paid interns and apprentices at NCGT partner organizations, food hubs, food distributors, and retailers to support the next generation of business leaders committed to building local food systems.

Two summer interns are at NCGT partner Lowes Foods. Sydney Grice, an NC State University student, worked primarily on the Carolina Crate program. She wrote biographies and collected photos for over 60 farmers contributing to the boxes. The biographies are used in weekly emails and newsletters going to Lowes Foods customers. An Onslow County native, Sydney also researched Onslow County food producers and popular area foods for Lowes Foods’ new store opening in Jacksonville in the fall.

Krista Morgan, an NC State University Horticulture graduate and Winston-Salem resident, began as a research assistant to NCGT and Lowes Foods in July. Her responsibilities include working with Forsyth County Extension Agent Mary Jac Brennan and other local food businesses and producers to plan community table events at Lowes Foods stores that promote local foods. One goal is to build a model for how extension agents can be involved with retail grocers and their customers.

In 2014, two interns also worked with NCGT partner food hubs. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Environmental Science graduate Jarette Hurry worked as a food hub research intern in the spring of 2014. Among other things, Hurry spent time at food hubs identifying operation standards and best practices that could be used by all food hubs to increase productivity and profitability. Now an Agriculture Extension Agent in Bertie County, Hurry says “the NCGT internship gave me the opportunity to collaborate with specialists from multiple disciplines on meaningful projects that directly impacted farmers, families and communities In North Carolina.”

Seasonal, local produce from Feast Down East.

Tara Arnette, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in Environmental Science, began working with Feast Down East in January of 2014. Located in rural Pender County, the Feast Down East Processing and Distribution Center works closely with local farmers to provide fresh produce for the weekly Lowes Foods Carolina Crate. Tara works with the farmers on weekly availability and packs the boxes for distribution across North and South Carolina. With over 200 boxes being shipped out weekly, the program has been a huge success for both Feast Down East and Lowes Foods.

NCGT will continue to sponsor interns and apprentices in 2015. Please contact NCGT Project and Research Director Rebecca Dunning if you are interested in hosting an intern or apprentice at your business or organization.

This article originally appeared in the August 2014 NC Growing Together Newsletter.