A group of lawmakers and advocacy groups on Tuesday called for $11 million in state funding to support local food systems, citing benefits for farmers, public health and the state’s economy.
A coalition of six organizations asked lawmakers to continue to support initiatives such as “Double Up Food Bucks,” which matches federal nutrition benefits spent on fruits and vegetables, effectively doubling purchasing power for low-income families while increasing revenue for farmers.
Rep. Karl E. Gillespie (Photo: NC General Assembly)“This is a true win-win for us,” State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) said during a press conference. “Farmers expand their customer base, increase revenue. Families, especially those with lower incomes, gain access to healthy food and federal dollars are invested into North Carolina.”
The coalition includes the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), the North Carolina Farmers Market network, the North Carolina Food Hub Association, the North Carolina Food Council, the American Heart Association and No Kid Hungry.
“They all have a shared purpose, and that’s to strengthen our local food systems and expand access to healthy food in North Carolina,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie also touted “SUN Bucks,” a federal program that provides healthy food to school children over the summer. A $5 million state investment, he said, will unlock more than $100 million in federal funding.
“Last year alone, it brought $130 million into North Carolina,” Gillespie said. “This strengthens local agriculture by directing those dollars back locally.”
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has also urged Republican legislative leaders to provide matching state funds for SUN Bucks.
“FarmsSHARE,” another initiative supported by the coalition, is administered by CFSA. It provides funding to partner food banks to buy locally grown foods from farmers at fair market value. The food banks then distribute the food free of charge to households in communities with high rates of food insecurity through community-based organizations like churches and food pantries.
Rep. Grant L. Campbell (Photo: NC General Assembly)Rep. Grant Campbell (R-Cabarrus), a doctor, shared a story about a pregnant patient who struggled to afford food.
Campbell became concerned after the patient began losing weight. She told him that she couldn’t afford to eat sometimes after feeding her children.
“We are blessed to live in the greatest nation in the world,” Campbell said. “We have an embarrassment of riches in this country. There’s really no excuse for anybody to be hungry.”
Gillespie said that FarmsShare’s impact has been felt in more than 70 counties. More than 300 farmers and 18 food hubs have been supported and more than 1.2 million pounds of food distributed, he said.
“This program has received support from the General Assembly in the past, and has demonstrated how important it is,” Gillespie said.
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The initiatives support small-to mid-sized farms in a state that’s quickly losing farmland, Gillespie added. Officials estimate North Carolina could lose an additional 3 million acres by 2040 if current trends continue.
“The solution is clear,” Gillespie said. “If we want to preserve farmland, we must ensure farming is sustainable, and the best way to do that is to make it profitable.”
Lawmakers said they plan to push for funding for the initiatives during the current budget cycle. North Carolina has not passed a new comprehensive state budget since 2023, but sponsors said they’re hopeful a deal can be reached in the coming weeks.
The programs benefit “families in crisis, those struggling to make ends meet and those who have to make decisions between rent and groceries and gas,” Campbell said.
“Let’s just make sure people aren’t hungry,” he said. “Let’s find ways that we can find to just make it easier for folks, or sometimes just not make it harder.”
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