Casey McKissick, coordinator for N.C. Choices, will speak at the Polk County Friends of Ag Breakfast Wednesday, April 18, 7 – 8 a.m. at the 4-H Center in Columbus.
N.C. Choices is an initiative of the N.C. Center for Environmental Farming Systems that promotes the advancement of local, niche and pasture-based meat supply chains. State officials said this program is impacting the local food movement in the meat category by:
• Facilitating education and networking experiences for producers, buyers, food professionals and processors
• Providing technical assistance to commercial meat processors
• Assisting farmers in navigating the regulatory environment
• Developing innovative partnerships to enhance market opportunities and consumer access to N.C. grown pasture-based meat products.
McKissick will focus particularly on the Foothills Pilot Project, a new meat processing facility in Marion that provides an option for small producers of poultry and rabbit.
– article submitted
by Kirk Wilson