Oct 10 Cooperative Extension awarded Tobacco Trust Fund Grant – Neuse News

The available inspected kitchen will allow for the growth and development of potential new food processing businesses, and will also serve as a catering kitchen for event rentals of the Lenoir County Farmers Market. Local chef's and restaurant owners, Lenoir Community College Culinary Program, and UNC Healthcare Lenoir Nutritional Programming Staff have all expressed interest in using the kitchen.

The kitchen will provide an easy access facility for healthy eating educational activities, cooking demonstrations, and workshops using locally available products, and to teach preparation of simple, healthy meals. the Community/Commercial is located downtown, and within walking distance of the Department of Social Services, the Lenoir County Health Department, Kinston Community Health, and two youth and adult serving community centers.

It will serve as a community facility for preparing food service for special events at the LCFM. Rentals of the Commercial/Community inspected kitchen will also provide a revenue stream. Several times we have rented our facility to private citizens, and community organizations for special events, bands and dining, fund raising, and even wedding receptions. Currently food for these events must all be brought in, since there are no kitchen facilities available for a caterer or for food preparation.

Another benefit of the Commercial/Community Kitchen project will be to serve as a resource kitchen during hurricanes or other natural disasters, to prepare and provide food for first responders, volunteers and the general community. The Annex is located across from the parking area where Emergency and Military personnel meet for transport to duties during disaster. In the past volunteer groups, including churches and community organizations have set up food distribution areas in the same vicinity, utilizing the inspected kitchen would add an extra measure of food safety to the distribution.

The Lenoir County Farmers Market would like to thank the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission as well as all of the local support from Chefs, LCC Culinary Program, Cherry Energy, UNC Lenoir Health Care, Chef and the Farmer, ALSCO, Noon Rotary of Kinston, many private citizens, and numerous others.

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Oct 10 Cooperative Extension awarded Tobacco Trust Fund Grant - Neuse News