Mission

OUR MISSION is to partner with Virginia farmers to increase community access to local food. We provide the support services, infrastructure, and market opportunities that connect people with food grown close to home.

History

LOCAL FOOD HUB grew out of a community-supported discussion that identified a need for greater linkages between small family farms and institutions seeking local food. Farmers were being locked out of the institutional market due to missing infrastructure, delivery minimums, insurance requirements, and time. Institutions and businesses found it challenging to access a consistent supply of local produce, and were looking for one number to call to source locally.

In 2009, a team of farmers, community members, and nonprofit and food distribution experts came together to launch Local Food Hub. Start-up funding came from a combination of county-level economic development sources, local foundations, and an individual donor campaign. Local farmers helped shape the business plan and networked with their peers. Local Food Hub received in-kind contributions to launch, including 3,500 square feet of warehouse space in Ivy, Virginia.

Since our founding seven years ago, Local Food Hub has made strides in our mission to make fresh, farm sourced food available to everyone. Locally sourced food is now accessible to school kids and seniors, hospitals and universities, and restaurants and retailers. Community partnerships and programs ensure that we not only feed but also educate a new generation about the value of eating fresh and local. Family farms, the environment, public health, and the local economy all benefit as a result.

Vision & Approach

Our vision is that the knowledge and choice of local food becomes the norm, not the exception, for all segments of the community, and that small farms have a strong economic foothold in the marketplace.

We offer a smarter, healthier alternative to traditional agribusiness models by reinstating small farms as the food source for the community. We forge close relationships with our farmers and provide essential services that lead to the direct distribution of fresh, high-quality food to institutions, retailers, restaurants, and schools. We create community partnerships that promote knowledge of and access to local food where it is needed most.

*All information is taken directly from the Local Food Hub website with permission.  If you would like to learn more, please visit their website by clicking here.