Assessment of Centralized Kitchens for Multigenerational Populations in North Carolina: A Case Study Approach

This masters project, driven by a proposal from community partner Food Insight Group (FIG), assesses the potential for centralized kitchens in North Carolina to meet the nutritional needs of multigenerational populations that participate in federally-subsidized meal programs, specifically among older adult and early childhood populations. Additionally, the project explores how centralized kitchens can play an integrating role in developing local food supply chains. Three case studies of existing centralized kitchens serving older adults and/or early childhood education centers - WAGES NC in Wayne County, Food Runner’s Collaborative in Raleigh, and Child Care Services Association in Durham - were conducted. This project identified that inter-organizational collaboration on centralized kitchens offers an effective solution to serve federally-funded older adults and early childhood education meal programs within a region, as long as the organizational partners have shared missions and are committed to carefully coordinating operations within the centralized kitchen. Furthermore, centralized kitchens are best able to procure local food to support small and mid-size farmers when a local food supply chain already exists within the region. The results of this project will be used to inform FIG’s future decisions about nutritional interventions to meet the needs of multigenerational populations, and may be useful for other advocates considering inter-organizational collaborative approaches to address the nutritional needs of a community.Master of City and Regional Plannin