NC 10% Campaign
Business Engagement
Grower & Buyer Connection Events
Grower-Buyer Connections Events are designed to connect individual growers to individual buyers in a facilitated and respectful setting, with the hopes of forging sales connections. Each grower meets face-to-face for 8-10 minutes with each buyer, with buyers moving from table to table. Growers at each table share product lists, photos of their farm, and samples with buyersĶ¾ and buyers share their requirements for volume, insurance, delivery terms, and their specific product needs.
The NC 10% Campaign previously hosted many of these events in partnership with the former NC Growing Together program. Now, we offer our planning guides and resources free to the public to use. These connection events can be utilized by any organization or community to build trust between farmers and food businesses, improve sales relationships, and boost economic growth in their local farming industry.
68%
farmers increased knowledge on wholesaler requirements
100%
buyers intend to buy from local farmers
Farmer: "buyer/farmer mixer format is good because, even though may not be able to cover all the details in 8min, the first conversation is the hardest step"
Buyer: "It was nice to gather updated info, meet new vendors, and learn about new products."
Local 10% Campaign
For over a decade, NC 10% Campaign worked with businesses and institutions statewide to track their locally-grown food purchases. Partners reported how much money was spent weekly on NC grown, raised, or caught foods. At its peak, the Campaign had 110 actively reporting businesses and institutions. The statewide campaign has been adapted to work at a community level to engage consumers and local businesses and institutions to buy local food.
A local 10% campaign can:
Increase knowledge of local food and agriculture
Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables
Increase purchases from local farmers and fishers
Curious how your business or institution can increase local food procurment?
Contact your Cooperative Extension County Center for more information on local suppliers.
