RISE for Local Foods

Remote Internship to Support Enterprises for Local Foods

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic


Addressing the lack of technology and direct marketing skills among small local food business owners through RISE.

Across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns changed the way food is accessed and prepared as more people began cooking and consuming meals at home. To compensate for the loss of food service and other sources of revenue, many farms and fisheries tried pivoting to direct marketing to remain viable during the pandemic. Direct marketing offers an additional revenue stream for local-food producers, processors, and retailers in business if demand from the wholesale sector slows due to events like economic or public health crises. However, not all producers had the time, skills, or flexibility to adapt to a business model focused on individual consumers. Competency in direct marketing necessitates familiarity with technologies many small producers lack. 

The goal of the RISE for Local Foods program was to match the skill sets of paid student interns with regional food, farming or seafood organizations and businesses (Host Sites) that wanted to engage in direct marketing and/or improve social media and their overall online presence due to impacts of COVID-19. The program was designed to help the Host Sites improve their profitability by connecting directly with local consumers while offering university students meaningful experiences and hands-on skills assisting producers and retailers to remain commercially viable during a drastic economic downturn.

RISE Goals

 
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Commercial Viability

Enhance the commercial viability of local farms, fisheries, and producer organizations by providing training and technological support to do direct marketing and improve online presence.

 
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Professional Development

Provide university students with meaningful and paid experiences that develop hands-on skills related to food systems operations.

“Throughout this internship I have learned so much about my community and my local food systems. I have a much better understanding of the level of support that local growers need, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic… Going forward, I plan to continue working within my community, and the marketing knowledge that I gained during this internship will help me with that.”

— Divya Lipscomb, Intern

"RISE was hugely beneficial to my recipients, who are sharing their deliverables with friends, family and associates to the extent I'm still getting requests for website assistance. There is a strong, ongoing need for technology assistance among seafood products that another RISE effort can satisfy."

— Barry Nash, NC Sea Grant

The RISE for Local Foods program "was very critical for us during a time when our resources (time and hours) were minimized due to increased duties related to COVID-19 and less budget for support staff due to less income." 

— Angie Blomer, Greensboro Farmers Curb Market


2020-2021 Host Sites


 

2020-2021 RISE Program:
By The Numbers

Seven interns worked with a total of 10 hosts, in addition to supporting the needs of the Chapel Hill Farmers Market, Organic Growers School, Community Food Strategies, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and the North Carolina Local Food Council.

 

50

social media graphics and posts

 

5

community surveys created

15

newsletters and e-blasts

 

8

videos created and edited

4

websites developed

 

10+

guides created for producers

Questions?

This internship is no longer available