Sharon chec

Farm to Institution & Regional Food Hubs

Sharon Cech Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College

February 19, 2011

REGIONAL FOOD HUBSo DEFINITIONo EXAMPLESo CALIFORNIA NETWORK

CHALLENGESSOLUTIONS

OVERVIEW

WHAT IS A REGIONAL FOOD HUB?

Regional Food Hub An integrated food distribution system to coordinate agricultural production and the

aggregation, storage, processing, distribution and marketing of locally or

regionally-produced food products. Graphic by Juliette Bellocq

HOW DID WE REACH THIS DEFINITION?

BROAD TO INCLUDE A RANGE OF HUB PROJECTS

AGGREGATION – DISTRIBUTION – WHOLESALE

Other Possible RFH ComponentsLight Processing Food Access Offices / ServiceRetail Grocery Job Training Programs Permanent Farmers’ Market Mobile Vending “Green Carts”

EXAMPLES OF REGIONAL FOOD HUBS

No Formal Entity

Existing Hub

Utilize available Citrus Packinghouse

Sell Pixie Tangerines

Nonprofit

Sell Variety of Fruits and Vegetables

Own 3000 sq ft Facility and 110 Acre Farm

Existing Hub

Cooperative (likely)Sell Full Range of Food Products

Working toward Distribution Center and Public Market

Emerging Hub

WHY NETWORK REGIONAL FOOD HUBS?

1 Support sustainable regionalized food systems

2 Increase opportunities for small and mid-sized farmers Efficiency Access to information

3 Make local foods available for wholesale customers

4 Improve equity throughout the food chain5 Increase access to good food in

underserved communities

CHALLENGESHOW DO WE DEFINE:

SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMS?

SUSTAINABLE GROWING

PRACTICES?

LOCAL?

FAIR LABOR PRACTICES

OUR SOLUTIONS

EDUCATION

TRANSPARENCY AND TRACEABILITY

SAN DIEGO GROWERS’ DEFINITIONS

LOCAL:

SUSTAINABLE: NO GMO PRODUCTS

DISTINCT LABELS25 MILES FROM SD COUNTY

BORDER

THANK YOU!