2. Defining Food Hubs a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution and marketing of source-identified food products, primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail and institutional demand, United States Department of Agriculture 3. Lessons from the Field Moving Food Along the Value Chain: Innovations in Regional Food Distribution (Diamond & Barham, 2012)CooperativesNonprofits Red Tomato (MA) Appalachian Harvest (VA) Growers Collaborative/CAFF (CA) Big River Farms/MFA (MN)La Montanita (NM) Oklahoma Food Coop New North Florida Coop Coop Partners Warehouse (MN) 4. Study Rationale Demand for locally produced food is skyrocketing and presents excellent opportunities for small-scale producers to exploit. However, they still face a number of logistical and financial challenges that limit their ability to serve and profit from these emerging markets. Small-scale producers are continually challenged by the lack of distribution systems that can effectively link producers to consumers within regions. 5. Study Objective To find out how different kinds of alternative distribution models work and how effective they are in creating new market channels for small-scale producers 6. Emergent Themes Across ModelsI.Infrastructure investment needs to match needs.II.Identity preservation is essential, yet operates in myriad ways.III.Loose farmer networks can be effective at aggregating product and gaining position in the marketplace.IV.Different organizational forms create both opportunities and challenges.
