Starting a Food Hub: Stories from the Ground

Описание: Food hubs play a role in strengthening food systems when they aggregate and distribute food products from local and regional producers, giving those producers access to broader wholesale, retail, and institutional markets. Food hubs provide critical infrastructure and services, including cold storage and transportation, to small and underserved food producers. They can also serve as conduits for small farmers to expand beyond direct-to-consumer sales (farmers markets and community supported agriculture) to wholesale. Many farmer-led aggregators emerged during the pandemic to support emergency food access through programs such as Farms Together, which facilitated contracts with regional food banks. While a food hub can feel like a catch-all solution to a broken food system, there are key considerations to starting and operating a food hub. In this session, you will hear from food hub operators about their experiences starting their food hubs, including challenges, successes, and ongoing needs.

Speakers

Megan Kenney, Harvest Hub Director, North Coast Growers' Association / Harvest Hub

Alicia Baddorf, Sustainable Supply Chain Coordinator, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program

Veronica Mazariegos-Anastassiou, Co-founder/Operator, Coastside Local Food Hub

Sam Thorp, Spade & Plow


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This workshop was recorded as part of the 38th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week of learning, inspiration and community. This event is a production of CAFF: Community Alliance with Family Farmers. www.caff.org