Market Farming

[KatherineLMF <katherine AT legacymanorfarm.com>]

I would be interested in learning more as I’ve never heard of a food hub before.

 

K

 

THE WAY FOOD USED TO TASTE

www.LegacyManorFarm.com   (Maryland)

 

From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of KAKerby AT aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 12:56 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] anyone working with a food hub?

 

We just had an email go out in our area, that a food hub has opened at a nearby (less than 20miles) agricultural teaching center.  They've been pretty active in our area for sustainable ag, but I didn't know this was a part of their big plan until I saw the email.  The food hub itself is being managed by an entity called Local Orbit, which apparently has some experience with food hubs in various parts of the country.  The deal is that we the seller, would contract with them to drop off whatever we have to sell that week at their location.  Then customers would agree to pick up there, and/or get deliveries from there.   I'm not clear on some of the details yet, for instance who sets pricing and whether I need to direct my customers there, or they expect customers to show up looking for product.  Possibly both. 

 

I mainly wanted to know if anyone on the list has any experience with a setup like this.  They are NOT calling themselves a CSA, and they are telling sellers that it's a wholesale distribution, so they do get some of the proceeds.  There's no fee for the service, just "a piece of the action".  At first that was a turnoff, but frankly I'd pay that at the farmer's market anyway.  I'll be doing some more reading tonight on how the pricing works and who sets the price, and where that all goes.   But I'm thinking hard about joining up.  We've had a heckuva time this year drumming up direct customers, for a variety of oddball reasons.  So this sounds appealing to us.  Any comments or experiences, good bad or otherwise?
Kathryn Kerby

frogchorusfarm.com

Snohomish, WA