Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Wilmington, N.C. - The 10% Campaign, a statewide initiative aimed at building North Carolina's food economy, will be launched for New Hanover and Brunswick Counties 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Madeline Suite. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo will be speaking.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)'s initiative is designed to encourage North Carolinians to spend 10 percent, a little over one dollar a day, of their existing food budget on foods produced locally. If successful, the effort would have a $3.5 billion impact on the state economy.

The 10% Campaign is a creative and interactive approach to building local farming and fishing industries, vital to both the economic and physical health of our community. The local campaign is the result of a partnership among county Cooperative Extension Agencies, CEFS and Feast DownEast, also known as the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program (SENCFS).

At the March 15 launch, community leaders from New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties will gather to learn how to join this local food initiative and take the challenge back to their coworkers and community. UNC Wilmington Campus Dining, already committed to the campaign, is working towards the 10 percent goal by cooking with herbs, meats, vegetables and products produced by N.C. farmers and vendors.

UNCW is the lead agent for Feast DownEast (www.feastdowneast.org ), established in early 2007 with the goal of creating a local and regional food system that supports local farmers, increases the sales of local farm products, educates consumers and the public on the importance of "buying local" and sustains and expands farm employment, profit and ownership.

CEFS is a partnership between N.C. State University, N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University and the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Its mission is to develop and promote food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities and provide economic opportunities in N.C. and beyond.

For more information on the 10% Campaign and how to join, visit www.nc10percent.com .

Media Contacts:
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu

Susan Holman, Feast DownEast volunteer, 910.520.4782 or jholman@ec.rr.com