This guide is the product of a yearlong “Farm to Fork” initiative, involving well over 1,000 North Carolinians interested in becoming actively engaged in food and farming issues. Participants in this process included people and organizations working in the fields of agriculture, commercial fishing, community organizing, education, faith, finance, local government, nutrition, philanthropy, planning, public health, public policy and youth outreach.

The intent of this guide is to provide key action ideas for building a sustainable food economy in North Carolina at the state and local levels. The implementation of these action steps should lead to significant economic development, stewardship of natural and agricultural resources, and better health and nutrition for all North Carolina residents.