Granville County Commissioner/Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman has been appointed to help lead a task force to strengthen access to high-quality and affordable food in North Carolina. Appointed by NCACC (North Carolina Association of County Commissioners) President Ronnie Smith, Hinman serves as co-chair of the “Resilience Initiative” and joins a dozen additional appointees from Wake, Randolph, Robeson, Tyrrell, Pitt, Bertie, Nash, Henderson, Wilkes, McDowell, Watauga and Brunswick Counties to ensure that the food ecosystem across the state is strong.
The “Resilience Initiative” was established in response to an expected increase in the food insecurity rate, which is predicted to rise from 14 to 19.3 percent. Lost wages and job loss, due to COVID-19, have negatively impacted the affordability of basic needs such as food and housing, creating a national and statewide crisis. In North Carolina, the average food insecurity rate is 14 percent, well above the national average of 10 percent.
“Given the importance of agriculture in North Carolina, this initiative will look at the entire ecosystem of food production, distribution and access,” said NCACC President Smith. “In addition to food availability and affordability, we will also explore the issues farmers face with the food supply chain, and educate consumers about how to utilize healthy food options.”
The task force will meet regularly (virtually) through August of 2021 to hear from experts, discuss potential partnerships and share experiences. The recommendations made by this group will serve as a road map for counties to implement plans and adopt solutions that will better meet local and regional needs.
Hinman, who also serves as Director of Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM), sees this appointment as a way to better connect available resources with those who need them.
“I am proud to have been selected to help lead this initiative, which I am so passionate about,” Hinman said of her appointment. “I look forward to sharing ideas and partnering with other counties to ensure that we address this serious issue that impacts so many, and on so many levels.”
For more information on this initiative, please visit http://www.ncacc.org/resilience.