What does it take to get strawberries from a local farm to your kitchen table? In a county like ours—where urban neighborhoods sit just minutes away from rolling pastures—the answer is more complex than you might think.

Today, we are proud to announce the publication of the 2026 Orange County Food System Assessment. This report, informed by the most currently available data, offers a comprehensive look at how our county food system grows, shares, and sustains itself.

To make sense of our intricate local food economy, this assessment utilizes a specialized model adapted by Christy Shi from Cornell University’s Discovering the Food System: A Primer on Community Food Systems, to look at system aspects such as production, distribution & aggregation, processing, marketing, purchasing, consumption, and resource and waste recovery. Readers will examine the food system through the lens of production, processing, sales, access, and food waste diversion.

As an urban county that maintains a robust rural character, we possess a dynamic array of food system assets—from bicentennial family farms to innovative commercial kitchens and bustling farmers' markets. These assets present massive opportunities for economic growth and system resilience, but they also face modern pressures. By exploring each segment of the supply chain, readers can better understand current strengths, emerging opportunities, and persistent challenges.

Whether you are a farmer, a business owner, or simply a resident who cares about where your dinner comes from, this assessment is a tool for you. Better understanding our food system is the first step toward strengthening it. We invite you to read the full assessment at https://orange.ces.ncsu.edu/orange-county-baseline-community-food-assessment/ and join the conversation about the future of food in Orange County.

Questions about this report can be directed to Orange County Cooperative Extension Director Jonathon Smith at 919-245-2057 or jonathon_smith@ncsu.edu.