Press Release
♦A newly formed nonprofit, The SEED Foundation of North Carolina, has teamed up with FoodRoutes Networks’ national campaign, Buy Fresh Buy Local. The Seed Foundation stands for the South Eastern Economic Development Foundation.
Headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, The SEED Foundation is a local nonprofit designed to develop and promote food and farming systems and spearhead local food campaigns. These systems will strengthen our local communities, grow our agriculture economy, and protect the environment in North Carolina. Members of The SEED Foundation will include area farmers, merchants that promote the sale of local grown produce, farmers markets, co-ops, area restaurants, and churches.
The goal of The SEED
Foundation is to encompass a holistic understanding of the entire food system that includes agricultural production, consumption, waste management, food security, and healthy outcomes. Currently, The SEED Foundation will serve the Piedmont Region with future plans expand throughout the state.
“The SEED Foundation is essentially an economic development commission and agribusiness council for agriculture. Our efforts will lessen the burdens of local and state government in their efforts to promote the public purposes of creating jobs, increasing the tax base, and improving our quality of life. Farming is valued as central to our heritage and our future,” commented Joe Fowler, who is a board member of The SEED Foundation and an area value added food producer.
Together with Mobile Farm Fresh of North Carolina, The SEED Foundation will work to promote healthy living through the initiatives of Farm to School, Farm to Health, and Farm to Restaurant. Mobile Farm Fresh and The SEED Foundation will work together on educational projects that promote healthy eating and healthy living.
The SEED Foundation will strive to assist and promote the interests of all counties and municipalities to support agricultural economic development initiatives that provide quality job opportunities in this region. The SEED Foundation will provide leadership and technical expertise to local communities, agencies, and organizations to facilitate cooperative programs within and among the region. Initial efforts will focus on existing farmers, beginning farmers, and war veterans turning to farming as a career by identifying funding sources, providing assistance with grants and low-interest loans, support of marketing and education efforts that teach good agriculture practices (GAP), and school and community gardens. A Funds to Farms fundraising and membership campaign is planned for later this year. The Seed Foundation also supports the Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ 10% Campaign initiative.
The SEED Foundation will be the first chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local in North Carolina. Buy Fresh Buy Local is part of the nonprofit FoodRoutes Network. FoodRoutes Network is an international non-profit that is dedicated to revitalizing local food systems.
“FoodRoutes Network coordination of the nationally recognized Buy Fresh Buy Local® (BFBL) brand marketing campaign has been connecting consumers in communities across the United States to sources of fresh, local food from growers they can know and trust.
Bringing The SEED Foundation on as a Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter is a natural fit, as our organizations share a common vision – to strengthen the critical connection between farmers and consumers and support local and regional food systems. We are excited to be adding a new chapter to our network and the first Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter in North Carolina,” stated Denise Sheehan, program coordinator at FoodRoutes Network.
To find out more on how to join The SEED Foundation of North Carolina, how to donate, or how you can help strengthen local communities in North Carolina, be sure to visit The SEED Foundation website at http://www.SEEDFoundationNC.com.
