Farmers Markets & Local Food Marketing
USDA has created a “Regional Food Hub” portal, a centralized web page where they have posted a compilation of recent research, data, blogs and articles that their partners and others have been conducting about new models of actively managed and coordinated aggregation and distribution for small to mid-sized farmers. See www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FoodHubs
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, and 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.