Volunteer with localfam

Producer Resources

Partnership Inquiry

What is LocalFAM?

Local Food As Medicine (LocalFAM) is BRWIA's food access program, which enables community organizations to provide their neighbors with fresh, nutritious food, supplied by local producers. The food is free to our recipients, but producers are paid full retail price for their products. Funding is provided by grants. 

On average, 1 in 6 people in the High Country are food insecure, despite the deep agricultural roots in the region and abundance of locally produced food. LocalFAM helps to bridge this gap by redistributing these products to those most in need, while also providing a new market channel for local farmers and producers.

​LocalFAM is built on the philosophy that everyone has a right to access healthy food, and that nutritious food can serve as medicine, particularly for treating and preventing many of the chronic illnesses that people experiencing food insecurity are at a high risk for. This idea of using food as a form of preventative care has gained traction within the medical community in recent years, and we are excited to see this kind of holistic thinking continue to gain support.

Partner Organizations

Do you represent an organization that could benefit from receiving free local food? Please fill out this form and we will be in touch with more details. We are specifically looking to partner with organizations that support women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other historically disadvantaged populations, but ALL organizations are encouraged to reach out. 

Past and present organizational partners include the following:

• Hunger & Health Coalition
• Hospitality House of Northwest NC
• Casting Bread Food Pantry
• Blowing Rock Cares
• Piney Creek United Methodist Church
• Wilkes Ministry of Hope
• Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes
• Boone Service Workers Coalition
• Children's Council of Watauga
• Boone, NC Junaluska Community

2022 Accomplishments

More than 27,000 lbs of high quality food put on our community's tables

• Over 3,000 healthy food boxes of fresh food delivered to local distribution partners
• More than $98,000 in revenue for 60 participating local farmers and producers
• 8 recipient organizations connecting their unique communities with free, healthy food

2020 & 2021 Accomplishments

• More than 24,000 lbs of high quality food put on our community's tables
• Over 3,700 boxes of fresh produce delivered to local distribution partners
• More than $88,000 in revenue for local farmers earned through LocalFAM
• 5 and counting recipient partners connecting their unique communities with free, healthy food

Looking Towards The Future

Our goals for 2023 and beyond include:

• Expand the LocalFAM program to include a wider variety of communities, both in Watauga and in our neighboring counties.
• Empower our participating producers by offering a reliable market channel throughout the year and support their future in agriculture.
• Establish long-term to year-round food box programs to provide consistent support to our community.