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Leon County
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Item#8 January 27, 2026 |
| To: | Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board |
| From: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
| Title: | Ratification of the Agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc. to Hold Food Distribution Events at County Facilities |
| Review and Approval: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
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Department/Division Review and Approval: |
Ken Morris, Assistant County Administrator Shington Lamy, Assistant County Administrator |
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Lead Staff/ Project Team: |
Abigail Thomas, Director, Office of Human Services and Community Partnerships |
Statement of Issue:
In order to effectuate recent Board action that authorized the County Administrator to contract with Farm Share, Inc., this item seeks ratification of an agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc., to hold food distribution events at County facilities that will reduce food insecurity and increase residents’ access to nutritious meals and fresh produce.
Fiscal Impact:
This item has no fiscal impact.
Staff Recommendation:
Option #1: Ratify the agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc. (Attachment #1) to coordinate and collaborate on Farm Share, Inc. events and programming that provide Leon County residents with access to nutritious meals and fresh produce, and authorize the County Administrator to execute any amendments, subject to legal review by the County Attorney.
Report and Discussion
Background:
In order to effectuate recent Board action that authorized the County Administrator to contract with Farm Share, Inc. (Farm Share), this item seeks ratification of an agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc. (Carters Corner), to hold food distribution events at County facilities that will reduce food insecurity and increase residents’ access to nutritious meals and fresh produce.
This agreement advances the following FY 2022 – FY 2026 Strategic Initiatives:
Coordinate with America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend and the City of Tallahassee to conduct community meetings in the neighborhood block groups with greatest food insecurity to identify and address their specific barriers to food security. (2022-31)
Work with the City of Tallahassee on the development and implementation of the Neighborhood First Program to engage residents and develop plans to address poverty and inequity in targeted neighborhoods including 32304. (2022-33)
These particular Strategic Initiatives align with the Board’s Quality of Life Strategic Priority:
Leon County has remained steadfast in its commitment to fighting food insecurity. Over the past five years, the County has invested more than $7.6 million and delivered nearly 55 million meals to low-income households through key programs. On September 15, 2025, the Board authorized the County Administrator to execute an agreement with Farm Share to coordinate and collaborate on events and programming that provide residents with access to nutritious meals and fresh produce to build on the County’s effort. Farm Share is a statewide nonprofit food bank that recovers surplus crops from Florida farmers and distributes fresh produce and groceries to families in need through a network of more than 2,000 local distributing agencies statewide, including food pantries, churches, schools and other nonprofit organizations across Florida.
Over the past few years, Farm Share and its local distributing agencies have held more than 120 food distribution events in Leon County that distributed 1.4 million pounds of food to families. Upon request, the County has coordinated with Farm Share on equipment and supplies needs for food distribution events held at the North Florida Fairgrounds and County Health Department facilities. A formalized agreement would enhance the County’s ability to provide greater coordination for events and utilize additional County facilities on a more consistent basis to enhance food access in the community.
Farm Share coordinates through local distributing agencies that plan, deliver, and distribute food to partner pantries or large-scale food distribution sites, such as the events held at the North Florida Fairgrounds and County Health Department facilities. Carters Corner is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Leon County that has served as the local distributing agency for the large-scale Farm Share food distribution events in the community. Carters Corner regularly partners with community stakeholders to enhance food access and neighborhood well-being through food distribution events and other social services.
Shortly following the Board’s September 15th direction to execute an agreement with Farm Share, staff began working with Farm Share to develop a contract. However, during the development of the agreement, Farm Share informed the County that it does not contract directly with governments for event coordination, but rather through local distributing agencies such as Carters Corner. As a result, an agreement was executed with Carters Corner to plan and coordinate on upcoming Farm Share events to be held at County facilities (Attachment #2). Therefore, it is recommended that the Board ratify the agreement with Carters Corner, which strengthens the County’s partnership with Farm Share to reduce food insecurity and increase residents’ access to nutritious meals and fresh produce.
Analysis:
As reflected in the formal agreement and consistent with Board action, the County will coordinate and collaborate with Carters Corner to host periodic Farm Share food distribution events at County facilities. The County and Carters Corner will coordinate on the dates, times, and locations of Farm Share distribution events held at County facilities (i.e., libraries, parks, etc.). Carters Corner will secure, transport, and distribute meals and fresh produce from Farm Share for events that are held at County facilities. In addition, the County can provide enhanced coordination of food distribution events through operational support (i.e., equipment, law enforcement, traffic control, insurance, etc.); promotion and outreach to neighborhoods in Leon County with high poverty and food insecurity rates; collaboration with local stakeholders such as Second Harvest of the Big Bend and the Tallahassee Urban League; and staff support at events held at County facilities.
The agreement is for an initial five-year term and will automatically renew for five additional one-year terms to ensure continuity in responding to community needs. Therefore, it is recommended that the Board ratify the agreement with Carters Corner to coordinate and collaborate on Farm Share events and programming that provide County residents with access to nutritious meals and fresh produce.
Options:
Ratify the agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc. (Attachment #1) to coordinate and collaborate on Farm Share, Inc. events and programming that provide Leon County residents with access to nutritious meals and fresh produce, and authorize the County Administrator to execute any amendments, subject to legal review by the County Attorney.
Do not ratify the agreement with Carters Corner Community Services Inc.
Board direction.
Recommendation:
Option #1
Attachments: