What is a Food Hub?

What is a Food Hub?

What is a food hub? In simplistic terms its could be called the Linkedin of the farm world; helping connect small to mid-size farmers to buyers and businesses that would like to use locally produced food. Food hubs focus on two popular trends that have been growing by leaps and bounds in the last few years: locally produced food, and sustainable farming. They offer growers, buyers and transporters the opportunity of finding each other in their specific area. While food hubs generated in the Midwest they’ve now spread nationwide. And since consumers aren’t the only ones wanting locally grown food; more and more businesses such as schools, hospitals, restaurants and grocers are sourcing local foods, food hubs provide a much needed service by giving local farmers the framework to store, process, and distribute their products to institutions as well as consumers. The interest in creating food hubs has grown tremendously, pushing the USDA to beef up their online resource to include information and advice on startup costs, warehouse space needed, how to lease that space, food safety protocol, and what insurance may be needed. 

Previous ReportPassing the Blame for FTA Delays
Next ReportGood Fences Make Good Neighbors