Second annual food summit tackles food insecurity in local communities

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Rising food prices are making it harder for families to make ends meet. Local leaders and community organizations gathered at Cape Fear Community College’s Union Station for the second annual New Hanover County Food Access Summit to discuss ways to improve access to fresh, affordable food.

Residents of Portia Hines Park face barriers to accessing fresh, affordable food, highlighting a need for more grocery options and community-based solutions in New Hanover County.

The neighborhood has limited access to supermarkets, a challenge that can affect both household budgets and residents’ health.

A recent WWAY investigation with the Cape Fear Collective found a 17-year difference in life expectancy between residents of Portia Hines Park and those in neighboring Northwood Forest, underscoring disparities between nearby communities.

One proposed solution is a permanent farmers market that would give residents more consistent access to fresh food.

Morgan Milne, owner and operator of Red Beard Farms, said New Hanover County needs a permanent farmers market space that could serve the community throughout the week, rather than only on weekends.

“I wanted to highlight the lack of a permanent farmers market space in New Hanover County,” Milne said, emphasizing the need for such a resource in the area.

A permanent market also could help address food insecurity by making fresh produce more accessible and affordable, particularly for older adults living on limited incomes.

Jordyn Appel Hughes, executive director of Feast Down East, said farmers markets can help seniors stretch their food budgets through programs that increase the value of food assistance benefits.

Hughes said some seniors receive about $27 a month in food stamp benefits. Through programs that match those benefits at participating farmers markets, shoppers can double their purchasing power, giving them more than $50 to spend on food.

The additional support can help residents afford nutritious food while supporting local farmers.

For residents who have difficulty traveling to a farmers’ market, Feast Down East also operates mobile markets that bring fresh produce directly into communities.

Adrian Evans, farmer engagement coordinator for Feast Down East, said the mobile markets are designed to meet people where they are and reduce transportation barriers to accessing fresh food.

“With our mobile market, we’re coming to you and we’re meeting people where they’re at,” Evans said.