Agriculture is North Carolina’s top industry and serves as the backbone of our state’s economy and identity. Farmers, distributors, and thousands of other hardworking North Carolinians play a critical role in our food supply.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the regulatory uncertainty created by broad and often arbitrary executive orders in response, highlighted vulnerabilities in our nation’s food supply chain, leading to disruption of delivery and skyrocketing prices. Local farms struggled to reach markets, resulting in the euthanasia of millions of animals and unharvested crops, depriving communities of access to fresh food. Post-pandemic, 1.6 million residents live in food deserts. To address these issues, the John Locke Foundation has launched the Sowing Resilience project, aiming to promote policy solutions to protect and enhance North Carolina’s vital agriculture industry and increase food security, protecting the seeds of freedom, in all its forms, for future generations.

Meet the North Carolinians behind your Food Supply

Taylor and Fran Montgomery – Montgomery Sky Farm

Several years ago, Fran and Taylor purchased a historic property with the goal to farm sustainably for themselves, but by 2018 their operation had evolved into Montgomery Sky Farm. Two years later, the pandemic hit, creating trying times for most businesses and requiring the Montgomerys to adapt further. In 2024, they now grow sustainably for local restaurants and markets, collaborate with different businesses, and assemble produce boxes. READ THEIR STORY HERE.

Dr. Phoebe Harris – Robeson Community College Food Pantry

In 2018, Dr. Harris’s colleague and fellow instructor at Robeson Community College, Mrs. Debbie Lowry observed a student digging through the trash to obtain the scrap of her teacher’s lunch. This student was a 19-year-old female who was homeless and hungry. Lowry passed away in 2020, shortly before the pandemic started, but Harris says they have done their best to continue her work. READ HER STORY HERE.

Mike and Suzanne Jones – MAE Farm Meats

Mike Jones owns MAE Farm Meats, which he started in 2004 with his wife, Suzanne. “MAE” are the initials of Mike and Suzanne’s three children: Max, Audra, and Enya. Mike is a farmer, and farmers are central to the agriculture industry, which is not only the No. 1 industry here in North Carolina, but is also a crucial part of addressing food insecurity and deserts. Agriculture is the foundation, and that is where we must start. READ THEIR STORY HERE.