Working Landscapes is leading a transformative effort in rural eastern North Carolina to increase access for Black and Indigenous farmers to institutional markets. Their project focuses on leveraging the existing infrastructure of ByWay Foods, the organization’s food hub, including its cold storage and value-added processing facilities. Through its smallest farmer first policy, Working Landscapes supports small-scale farmers in meeting institutional demand and procurement standards. Through this initiative, Working Landscapes will assist farmers in obtaining food safety certifications, introduce climate-smart production methods, and create new market opportunities through differentiated branding, such as a Lumbee-Grown label. Additionally, the organization is fostering farmer coordination by supporting two emerging cooperatives and providing business planning resources. By connecting farmers with institutional buyers and advocating for the inclusion of local produce in institutional procurement, Working Landscapes aims to reshape the food value chain to better support marginalized farmers, rural communities, and institutional consumers alike. Through partnerships with local schools, hospitals, and regional food hubs, this project will empower farmers, build economic resilience, and promote food sovereignty in the region.
