July 2016 – A rising senior at Duke University, Natalie Markowitz is interested in global food systems and what connects and disrupts food supply chains. Working with Paige Burns and Susan Kelly in the Richmond County Cooperative Extension office, Natalie has had an opportunity to facilitate the local food supply chain by helping to lay the ground work for a new food hub in Rockingham.
In preparation for the food hub, Natalie researched GroupGAP certification and what it takes for small and mid-sized farmers to sell their produce in wholesale markets. She surveyed farmers and retailers about their needs and interest in the food hub. The data from Natalie’s surveys will inform important decisions about facilities, equipment, and other details related to the Rockingham food hub.
Natalie says it’s been surprising “to realize how much there is to learn, how little people really understand about food systems, and how little I understood…when you buy something, you have no idea who is involved in producing that, how it was produced, how many different intermediaries there were before it got to you-it’s all invisible.” Working as an apprentice this summer has helped her see some of the disconnects in the supply chain and she hopes her research will help bridge some of those gaps.
This article originally appeared in the July 2016 NC Growing Together Newsletter.