According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report, the food insecurity rate in Orange County stands at 13%. Multiple organizations are engaged in efforts to combat this statistic, but one of the most difficult products to come by is fresh protein due to storage requirements and other logistics.
To contribute to this effort, Orange County Cooperative Extension launched a new project between the 4-H, Livestock, and Local Foods to provide fresh poultry to organizations in the county. 4-H recently restarted their embryology program where second grade classrooms receive eggs and incubators to learn how chicks form inside of the egg. This project resulted in approximately 100 Cornish cross chicks that were brooded by a friend of the office before transitioning to the W.C. Breeze Incubator Farm to grow out. This property was donated to North Carolina State University to provide an area for beginning farmers to get started. A vacant high tunnel on the farm was retrofitted to house broilers for the six-week growing period.
On April 28th, Orange County hosted a processing workshop at the Breeze Farm for twelve participants interested in home processing and renting the MPPU. This workshop introduces animal husbandry, food safety, and how to operate the equipment in the unit. Area Specialized Poultry Agent, Jonas Asbill, and Caswell County Livestock Agent, Bailee Sheffield, were also assisting with the event. 12 participants were in attendance for this workshop to gain hands-on skills that they will take back to their homes and operations. Along with the processing workshop on the 28th, staff from Orange and Durham came together the day before to process a portion of the birds.
Along with providing technical knowledge for the participants, the efforts from this project provided protein to families in need in Orange County. Over 230 pounds of chicken was processed during this effort and was delivered to PORCH Hillsborough. This equates to enough protein for almost 80 families.
Collaborating with partnering organizations is a highlight of Extension programming, and this endeavor was a prime example. This project would not have been possible without Southern States in Carrboro providing feed and Allen Harrim LLC in Liberty donating fertilized eggs. Another round of this project will take place next spring and the Extension office hopes to donate even more pounds of poultry to those in need.
