Who We Are
Capital Area Food Network is a community-led non-profit of Wake County citizens and organizations working together to support, sustain, and improve our local food system. We always welcome new voices and members interested in helping reach our mission:
To cultivate healthy individuals, communities, and economies through vibrant food and farm systems.
The Capital Area Food Network is not alone - there are many food councils developing in North Carolina and around the nation. We connect with other councils regionally and at the state level to share policy agendas, best practices, and stories of success.
Our structure
CAFN is organized into multiple circles that each take on a different part of the food system: food justice, food access, farmland preservation, policy, food waste and recovery, and nutrition and health initiatives. These individual circles are connected through our Coordinating Circle, a central group that helps set overall strategy and direction. CAFN supports the full integration and implementation of race equity across all aspects of the food system, which is why race equity is considered when planning the activities of all of our circles.
The Capital Area Food Network is registered as an NC non-profit, with fiscal sponsorship provided by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.
our MEmbers
Despite their diverse background, CAFN members share one common goal: to support the Wake County food system. Our organization includes passionate Wake County citizens and local food champions involved in all aspects of our food system - farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, nonprofit professionals, educators, and people who just love food! Want to join us? Let us know! Anyone living or working in Wake County is welcome.
our history
CAFN was developed out of the Raleigh Wake Urban Agriculture Working Group, a grassroots coalition interested in integrating urban agriculture into the City of Raleigh’s zoning code. Following the work of this urban ag group, a community-wide interest meeting was held in 2013 to discuss extending the community-based food policy collaborative that had emerged.
This interest meeting led to an 18-month task force phase led by a group of 12 passionate volunteers from various backgrounds, with expert facilitation by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. This task force developed the groundwork for the creation of The Capital Area Food Network, which launched in 2015 at a community meeting held at The Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh.