Good Food for All People: Food Hubs at Work in Philadelphia
Leveraging the buying power of the entire community creates a steady demand for local farmers and brings fresh produce, like the squash pictured above, to community hospitals and schools.
There are many communities across the country grappling with limited access to affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables at a time when these same communities are fighting rising rates of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diet-related illnesses. The very definition of community—that inter-connectedness between residents, businesses, hospitals and schools—means that health or food issues that affect one part of the community can have a negative impact on the rest.
At USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), we are examining food hub distribution models of all shapes and sizes–finding ways to compliment and supplement existing food systems as a way to overcome these challenges.
Recently, I was asked to talk about food hub distribution models as part of a video about Common Market, a food hub serving the Philadelphia area. This opportunity gave me the chance to discuss the challenges we face in connecting farmers in rural areas with consumers in urban communities, and how food hub models can help us redefine the way food gets to our tables.
A food hub model like the one being used in Philadelphia can work to everyone’s advantage, using the community as a whole to make the system viable. By leveraging the buying power of schools, hospitals, elderly care centers and corner markets to create consistent demand, you can then harness the growing power of local farms to create consistent supply.
USDA is examining food hub distribution models, like this one being used by Common Market in Philadelphia, to find ways to compliment and supplement existing food systems.
Costs remain low because less transportation and storage is needed to get the food to the community while it’s still fresh. By linking producers to communities, food hubs create a win-win arrangement where communities are getting greater access to healthy fresh food, and farmers are gaining entry to new markets that would be difficult or impossible to access on their own.
As we research and explore new methods and models, we will share lessons learned, best practices and a list of available resources on our food hub website. To learn more about the work being done in Philadelphia, check out the full Common Market story on YouTube.
After receiving a NESARE grant to develop healthy frozen and vacuum packaged local food kits, I believe that this technology that started in the 1960′s by Prof. Baker for meat should be used at food hubs so there is no waste. I am working on training materials that can be used by community members in developing their own businesses using small scale freezing and vacuum packaging equipment. I am a retired farmer, family and consumer science teacher and small scale food processor of frozen stir fry kits, soup kits, fruit sauces, cooked dry beans, cooked whole grains and more. I welcome inquiries.
I am a teacher in the Fort Mill schools in SC. I am planning to start some sort of non-profit to bring fresh produce to families in urban areas where there are mainly convenience store and not grocery stores. I would also like to get fresh produce and non-processed foods into schools. I am at the very beginning stages , mainly researching what is already out there. I appreciate any information.
Thank you,
Cynthia Hair