by Ashley See, CFSA Communications Manager | Monday, Mar. 8, 2021 –

This Week at CFSA grid of speakers for February 2021

In 2021, we’re trying something different for our “This Week at CFSA” broadcasts.

Based on your feedback, we learned that you would enjoy a deeper dive into subjects–lasting more than 15-20 minutes at a time. So, we’re doing just that! Each month, we’ll select a theme and invite a guest or two to join us each Friday morning to explore an aspect of that theme. Aspects may include farm visits, farmer interviews, policy updates or breakdowns, or even an overview of what something is.

New to “This Week at CFSA”? We go live every Friday at 10 a.m. for 15-20 minutes to discuss the latest issues in sustainable food and farming. We center the discussion around what it means for those interested in local food in the Carolinas. The series launched in May 2020, and we did 26 broadcasts throughout 2020.

This February, our theme was hunger and food access. We covered: growing crops for donation, food as a human right, the importance of food hubs, and the importance of food banks. As you’ll see below, each discussion is centered around local food and farms.

In case you missed them, we’ve got you.

Want to grow crops on the farm for donation?

Our farm team talks about growing crops on the farm for donation. Whether you want to reduce food waste or grow crops to donate, Gena and Dylan have all sorts of tips for how farms can make it happen. They also offer great advice on questions to ask and factors to consider when setting up a food-for-donation system.

Who is this for? Growers of all scales and those concerned with food waste.

Concerned about local food systems and hunger?

Our policy director, Nick, talks with Rosa Saavedra of Bread for Health. Rosa is the regional organizer in North and South Carolina and engages in a conversation about food as a human right, local farms, and the COVID-19 emergency.

Who is this for? Anyone concerned about local food systems and hunger.

How do food hubs fit into the food access equation? How can you help them?

Our team (Mary Beth Miller, Chloe Johnson, and Ashley See) explores the importance of food hubs from a few angles, including our FarmsSHARE program. At the end, there’s a discussion on the threat of a proposed rule by the FDA, and how you can help food hubs, small farms, and other local food businesses fight it. Update: the comment period for the proposed rule by the FDA closed on Feb. 22. Please do not attempt to take action but do watch the episode!

Who is this for? Advocates and local food supporters.

How do food banks fit into the food access and local food equation?

Our policy director, Nick, sits down with Mike Darrow, Executive Director of Feeding the Carolinas, to explore what food banks do and the impacts of COVID-19, how local food from farms fits into that, and the overall picture of food security right now.

Who is this for? Advocates and local food supporters.


Want to catch a live broadcast?
Tune in to CFSA’s Facebook and YouTube pages every Friday at 10 a.m.


In March, we’ll explore how to buy local from a farm, policy, and economic standpoint. We hope to see you there!