The Bread Riot is a gathering of like-minded people in Salisbury and Rowan County, North Carolina that come together to bring local food to local people.  Specifically, our mission is:

The Bread Riot cultivates a thriving local economy by facilitating a supply of locally produced food, utilizing sustainable farming practices and focusing on whole-life issues, education, and environmental concern.

Please visit this site often to learn of our programs and events.  To facilitate your understanding of our work, we will soon have a tool for you to use to sign up for our newsletter and updates.  Look for it soon and sign up.

• We support local and sustainable agriculture.
• We respect the environment.
• We strive to reduce the impact of our lifestyles on the world we share with other species and future generations.
• We prefer to work with local, earth-friendly producers.
• We believe that every individual can make a tangible difference in the world by choosing their foods wisely – food choices that support their local and sustainably-minded producers.
• We strive to make the Bread Riot welcoming and accessible to all and to respect the opinions, needs and concerns of every member.

We are currently working to obtain non-profit status for the Bread Riot and hope to complete this process by spring of 2010.

Our current Board of Directors is: Christine Wilson, Chair; Doug Kearney, Carl Peters, Capri Brixey, Maria Thomson, Gavine Pitner, Sean Meyers, Maggie Blackwell, and Megan Bame.

We have three working committees: Organizational Committee (Christine Wilson - leader), Communications Committee (Capri Brixey - leader), and Programs Committee (Maria Thomson - leader).

For questions or comments please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Our name Bread Riot refers to the revolt in Rowan County during the Civil War when the women, upset because local merchants were hoarding flour and food supplies while the rest of Rowan County was starving, rioted with axes and hatchets to collect food to feed their community. Our vision of a food source that better feeds our families and also supports our local growers is inspired by the historic bravery and gumption of these Rowan County women.

To learn more about the Salisbury Bread Riots of 1863 please view the following resources.

UNC Library

CivilWarHistory.com

The process to apply for our non-profit status continues to move along. We have submitted paperwork to the State of North Carolina and are working to finish the federal application. We look to have the paperwork submitted by late fall and hope to receive confirmation of our status by spring of 2010. Thanks to the hard work of our committees in creating a 5-year plan for the Bread Riot and the generous work of our lawyer Justin. If you are interested in helping with a future event, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We have volunteer opportunities of ALL sizes and NEED your help!