Digital "Food Hubs" Help Farmers Grow Business

Digital Food Hubs Help Farmers Grow Business SPECIALTY/SERVICES The USDA says there are now more than 230 digital Food Hubs on the internet up 65 percent in 5 years These hubs help smaller producers pool their products market to a larger audience and fill bigger contracts In 2007 about 137 000 small farms sold products directly to consumers or through food hubs That number increased to nearly 180 000 in 2013 In Minnesota the agriculture department operates Minnesota Grown a website and colorful directory listing 970 farms that market vegetables meats berries trees flowers and many other products Their website minnesotagrown com has a searchable database that connects consumers to producers by product service and zip code More than 200 000 unique visitors use it annually One of the country’s oldest food hubs is La Montanita in New Mexico Established in 1976 they buy from more than 700 local farmers and producers then warehouse and process more than 1 000 local products at their retail co-op locations across the state ph 505 217-2010; www lamontanitacoop com Another example is The Appalachian Farmers Market Association a strong network of several hundred local producers in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee They promote products from farmers and crafters Products such as fresh locally grown foods are marketed throughout Appalachia at stores and stands The association distributes 15 000 flyers to promote its members’ products and maintains an interactive website that includes regular “farmer of the week” articles ph 276 623-1121; www appfma org Online food hubs set up by independent producers are a more recent variation of the food hub phenomenon “The internet connects buyers and sellers in a way that didn’t exist a decade ago ” says Rob Ness who buys preserves popcorn honey and fresh vegetables from sources he’s found online Food-Hub org has more than 5 000 members in Western U S about 40 percent buyers and an equal number of sellers Their website connects people with information photos and videos An even more unique outgrowth of online marketing is a software program from Lulus Local Food that helps producers establish and operate online farmer’s markets www luluslocalfood com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Minnesota Department of Agriculture www minnesotagrown com La Montanita Co-op 901 Menaul Blvd N E Albuquerque New Mexico 87107 ph 505 217-2010; www lamontanita coop Appalachian Farmers Market Association ph 276 623-1121; www appfma org Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing www ams usda gov/AMSv1 0/foodhubs Lulus Local Food P O Box 29193 Richmond Virginia 23242 www luluslocalfood com

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