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Many producers, especially small and medium sized growers, face significant challenges when it comes to aggregation, distribution, processing, storage, and marketing. Food hubs can help. By being the central coordinator of supply chain logistics, food hubs offer a variety of services that benefit small and midsize producers. For instance, food hubs are aggregrating local produce from many small farmers into orders to satisfy the requirements of large buyers for source-identified locally and regionally grown food. Food hubs are preparing and processing regional foods specifically for institutional buyers like schools and hospitals. Food hubs are increasing access to fresh healthy foods by widening the distribution opportunities for many small and midsize producers. Food hubs have developed group branding and certification schemes that are adding immediate value to the products being sold and providing a level of food integrity now expected from buyers and their customer base. Remarkably, many food hubs are providing not just one of these services, but some or even all of these services. The bottom line is that food hubs play a critical role in developing stronger supply chains which strengthen regional food systems and are innovative business models to help small and midsize producers maximize their access to the marketplace.
The USDA is committed to food hubs because we believe that food hubs offer strong and sound infrastructure support to producers across the country which will also help build a stronger regional food system. Here are some links to USDA’s research, findings, and support of food hubs. Much of USDA’s work on food hubs is done in partnership with the National Food Hub Collaboration, which includes Wallace Center at Winrock International, the National Good Food Network, the National Association of Produce Market Managers, and Project for Public Spaces.
For more information, please contact foodhubs@ams.usda.gov.
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