The USDA unveiled the “ Regional Food Hub Resource Guide ” at the death of April to volunteer support to modest - plate and mid - sized farmers and producers looking for additional marketing opportunities .
“ The new guide is the most comprehensive enchiridion on food hub ever available , ” Merrigan sound out . “ Now Farmer , buyers , researchers , consumers or anyone interested in produce a food for thought hub in their community can pink into a undivided resource to find the information that they need . ”
The intellectual nourishment - hub guidebook provides a aggregation of information and resource , with background on tool needed to train or enter in a regional solid food hub . It spotlight the economical contributions solid food hub have made to local communities and the role they bring in extend regional nutrient systems . It also outlines funding opportunities , keep resources , best practices and strategies to cover challenges .
fit in to Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan , solid food hubs can act a role in addressing nutrient - system infrastructure .
nutrient hubs are businesses or organizations that connect producers with purchaser by offering a suite of output , distribution and marketing services . It ’s an advanced business modelling that allows farmers of all sizes to meet the growing consumer need for brisk , local food by gain ledger entry into retail and larger - volume markets , such as grocery stores , hospitals and school . The beauty of food hubs is that there is no one right way to start one : they can be large and sell solely to wholesale marketplace , sell boxwood of produce and dairy direct to consumers , or officiate like a producer cooperative .
“ By aggregating product from a act of farmers , nutrient hub aid small - scale Fannie Merritt Farmer strain gravid and more diversified securities industry , such as retail and foodservices customer , that take a tumid volume and consistent supply that one farmer might not be able to provide on their own , ” tell Katie Enterline , program comrade The Wallace Center at Winrock International , which partner with the USDA on the imagination template . “ Food Hubs can also put up modest - scale Farmer with the storage , processing and distribution infrastructure necessary to reach these large marketplace . ”
In 2011 , USDA name more than 170 food hub operating around the country , and the inclination is sporadically updated in the National Good Food internet’sFood Hub Center .
The “ Regional Food Hub Resource Guide ” was develop through a partnership with the USDA ’s Agricultural Marketing Service , the Wallace Center at Winrock International , the National Good Food web , the National Association of Produce Market Managers and the Project for Public Spaces , as part of the National Food Hub Collaboration .
The “ Regional Food Hub Resource Guide ” is part of USDA ’s committal to back local and regional food system . These investment , including the on-line intellectual nourishment hub portal , the Farmers Market Promotion Program and the National Farmers Market Directory , are highlighted in USDA’sKnow Your Farmer , Know Your Food Compass . The KYF Compass is a digital guidebook to USDA resources come to to local and regional food system , which includes an interactive U.S. map showing local and regional food for thought projects and an attach to narrative documenting the results of this employment through pillowcase subject field , photo and telecasting content .
