Dara Bloom is an associate professor and Local Foods Extension Specialist at NC State University. She is also Assistant Director of Community-Based Food Systems for the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Dara was inspired by her time doing community gardening on the US\/Mexican border to learn about the structure and policies of the larger agri-food system, as well as how community-based projects can enhance local food security. Dara earned her degree in Rural Sociology at Penn State University, with a focus on the Sociology of Agriculture and Food Systems. Her graduate research revolved around the challenges and opportunities of \u201cscaling up\u201d local food systems, including the interactions between social, environmental, and economic values as alternative movements are incorporated into conventional systems. Her current work includes providing support through Cooperative Extension and CEFS to develop local food value chains as part of community-based local food projects that integrate low-resource consumers and support local farmers. This has included exploring how to strengthen immigrant\/refugee communities\u2019 capacity to participate in local food production and preparation, and how to connect food pantries with local food sources. The majority of her research\/extension efforts currently focus on developing Farm to Institution value chains, including those that connect farmers\/food hubs to child care programs in Farm to ECE initiatives, as well as examining mechanisms to coordinate among multiple Farm to Institution programs.<\/p>\n