970: Transforming Western North Carolina's Food Landscapewith Dana Choquette

How to Revolutionize Local Food

In this Episode Dana Choquette, the Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Food Coalition, shares how a first-generation regenerative livestock farmer became a regional leader in local food system infrastructure. From backyard sheep during COVID to coordinating 12 food hubs and 9 food councils, Dana explains how small farms can transform local economies, reduce food insecurity, and strengthen community resilience. This episode explores food hubs, policy innovation, hunger relief, and why collaboration—not competition—is the future of regional food systems.

Our Guest:  Dana Choquette is the executive director of a 19 county community coalition that works to strengthen the local food system in western North Carolina. She mobilizes projects to help people in all corners of the food system from those experiencing hunger to those building viable small farms. All while building local food distribution infrastructure. She's a first generation regenerative livestock farmer, and particularly loves working with sheep and cattle.

Key Topics & Entities

• Western North Carolina Food Coalition (WNC Food Coalition)
• Dana Choquette’s transition from urban life to regenerative livestock farming
• Western North Carolina’s 19-county food system
• Food hubs as aggregation and distribution infrastructure
• WNC Food Hub Collaborative (12 independent hubs collaborating regionally)
• Grow Where You Live Policy (community gardens in high-density housing)
• Food councils (9 hyper-local councils across WNC)
• Community-based food pantries and 24/7 open-access pantries
• Manna FoodBank partnership
• Warehouse aggregation and distribution model
• Institutional food purchasing vs. national distributors
• Carbon footprint and local food sourcing
• Farmer viability and consistent market outlets
• Chris Smith’s book The Whole Okra

Key Questions Answered

How did Dana transition from urban living to farming and food systems leadership?

Dana had no farming experience until nearly age 30. After relocating from Colorado to Western North Carolina during COVID, she and her husband started with backyard sheep. What began as a trial experiment quickly evolved into expanded livestock, leased land, and a deep commitment to producing food for their community. That hands-on experience led her into food systems work and ultimately to leading the WNC Food Coalition.

What is a food coalition and how does it function regionally?

A food coalition coordinates local stakeholders across the food system—from hunger relief to farmer support to policy advocacy. In Western North Carolina, the coalition serves 19 counties through 9 hyper-local food councils, each responding to the specific needs of its community.

What is a food hub and why is it important?

Food hubs are brick-and-mortar aggregation and distribution centers that purchase food from local farmers and redistribute it to consumers, institutions, CSAs, retail outlets, and food pantries. They create consistent market outlets for farmers, reduce distribution gaps, and help keep food dollars circulating locally.

How do food hubs differ from national distributors?

National distributors aggregate global food at scale, often prioritizing cost efficiency. Food hubs prioritize local sourcing, fair farmer compensation, shorter supply chains, and lower carbon footprints. They also strengthen local economies and improve freshness and nutritional value.

How is the WNC region addressing hunger right now?

The coalition partners with Manna FoodBank and operates 24/7 open-access community pantries, direct home delivery, and snack bag programs for unhoused individuals. Their approach blends immediate relief with long-term systems change.

What is the Grow Where You Live Policy?

A proposed Asheville policy requiring new high-density housing developments to include at least 5,000 square feet of community growing space, along with long-term maintenance support.

What was the coalition’s biggest failure and lesson learned?

Early on, the organization tried to solve too many food system challenges at once. They narrowed their focus, strengthened core programs, and built capacity before expanding again.

What is the coalition’s biggest success?

Bringing 12 independent food hubs together into a collaborative network focused on regional impact rather than competition.

Episode Highlights

• Dana began farming with Craigslist sheep and YouTube tutorials during COVID.
• Western North Carolina’s terrain forces farmers to be scrappy and innovative.
• Food hubs offer consistent year-round markets for small farmers.
• The region supports 12 collaborating food hubs and 9 food councils.
• The coalition operates a central warehouse to aggregate donations and distribute food across multiple counties.
• 24/7 open-access pantries remove barriers to food access.
• Local food improves freshness, nutrition, and taste.
• Dana’s driving motivation: building a resilient food system for her daughter’s future.

Resources

Western North Carolina Food Coalition — https://www.wncfoodcoalition.org

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/wncfoodcoalition

Become a Member — https://www.wncfoodcoalition.org (Join for as little as $1)

Show Notes — https://urbanfarm.org/WNCFoodCoalition

Book Recommendation — The Whole Okra by Chris Smith

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