FEAST Down East

Feast Down East is dedicated to growing our local food system. We support local farmers, increase access to fresh food, contribute to economic growth, and enhance food security. We believe a strong local food system fosters social entrepreneurship, stimulates the local economy, enhances food security, and preserves our agricultural heritage. The mission of Feast Down East is to strengthen the farming communities in Southeastern NC by providing resources, education, and distribution opportunities to farmers while making food accessible for communities with the greatest need. Today, we help support farm businesses, distribute local produce, and increase consumer access to nutritious, seasonal food that's local and affordable. We also educate the public on the importance of buying local foods. Through our programs, we seek to support economic growth and foster a healthy local food system. Feast Down East envisions a world where sustainable, healthy farms can be passed on to generations to come, and where all have access to affordable, fresh, local, nutritious food. Feast Down East is committed to supporting the communities throughout Southeastern North Carolina through our core values. Providing affordable, fresh, local food for all people. Advocating for the local farming community through educational programs, facilitating product sales, and promoting access to fresh, local food in vulnerable communities. Supporting the needs and desires of the diverse communities we serve by responding to challenges and change quickly and nimbly. Supporting local and regional food systems and economies while minimizing waste of resources and striving to keep every dollar spent within the local economy. Cultivating programs that continue to uplift and support community leadership initiatives and opportunities for farmers, community members and partners. Through our programs and partnerships we have achieved significant milestones over the years that we're proud to share. This data is from 2025. Learn About Our Wholesale Operations Food Hub Learn About Our Local Motive Mobile Farmers' Market Learn About Our Food Prescription Program w/ Novant Health Feast Down East began its journey in 2006 as the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program (SENCFSP), a UNCW-affiliated economic development project. Founded by Leslie Hossfeld, former Chair and Professor of Sociology at UNCW, and Rev. Mac Legerton, Executive Director of the Center for Community Action in Lumberton, SENCFSP was a grassroots initiative born in response to massive job loss and high poverty in Southeastern North Carolina, the state's most ethnically diverse area and one of three major regions of persistent poverty. From the outset, our goal was to promote economic and community development through a healthy, accessible, local food system. In 2010, SENCFSP took a significant step forward by establishing itself as the nonprofit organization we now know as Feast Down East. Today, we're proud to continue our work in this region, nurturing an extensive network of partnerships with public and private institutions and agencies. Our programs are designed to support farm businesses, distribute local produce, increase consumer access to local foods, and educate the public on the importance of buying locally-sourced food. Feast Down East has always been, and remains, firmly committed to our mission: supporting economic growth in Southeastern North Carolina through the cultivation of a vibrant local food system "I love [the Mobile Market] because it gives people in these food deserts a place to go so they don't have to sit on a bus for an hour, and gives them an opportunity to get fresh food that is healthy and affordable." Kelly, Rankin Terrace customer "Working with Feast Down East I get into pretty much every restaurant that you can think of in the Wilmington area. I get to know the chefs, I get to know the owners, so I have a first-hand relationship with the people th