Sarah Blacklin, program director of NC Choices, was recently recognized in a national search for 100 Fresh Perspectives shaping the rural United States and agriculture.
Blacklin was recognized for her role in creating Working Women in the Meat Business, a program involving trainings and conferences intended to help women overcome barriers in their careers with the meat business.
“The meat industry is certainly complex, and meat, in general, is a topic that sparks a diverse set of public opinions,” Blacklin said. “While there are always going to be those who abstain from meat eating, the fact of the matter is that the majority of people are going to eat meat in this country.”
The local meat supply chain is complicated and under-resourced, yet there is a market demand for more alternative pasture-raised meats in the marketplace.
“Our hope is to connect the farmers who choose to raise their animals on pasture with resources to help achieve profitability,” Blacklin said.
Blacklin started at age 20 as a farmhand for a number of years while in college and also worked at local farmers’ markets. She then proceeded to manage the farmers’ market where she worked for the following five years and began working closely with pasture-meat production as a volunteer for NC Choices, as well as for local farmers. From there, she transitioned into NC Choices, where she is in her fourth year full-time.
“I love working with the diversity within the NC farming community, and I’m grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve been offered to this day for allowing me to pursue these interests,” Blacklin said.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems, founder of NC Choices, is a partnership between NC State, NC A&T State University and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The center has various components including local food programs, a 2,000-acre research farm, academic courses such as the NC State Agroecology program, apprenticeships and more.
“All these activities work toward the overall CEFS goal to develop and promote just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond,” Blacklin said.
Although the meat industry is growing, it is not without its problems. Many labels and claims used to market meat can leave customers interested in purchasing local, pasture-raised meats confused.
“We need to do a better job of helping customers navigate the marketplace, especially when shoppers are not able to go to farmers’ markets and rely on labels in a retail setting,” Blacklin said.
