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Food Hubs – Fuel ForA Regional Food System

Franco NaccaratoProgram ManagerGreenbelt Fund

@LocalFoodFranco

Local Food:

If you ask for it,

It will come.

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• Understand where Food Hubs fit in the food system

• Learn about a few different Ontario models

• Discover how Food Hubs can play a bigger role in developing a Regional Food System

Goals

Foodservice Distribution

Regional Hub Pilot Project

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Pros vs Cons

Pros• Efficient• Less costly• Increased

seasonality• Increased variety• Increased volume

Cons• Prohibited access• Focused on Price• Loss of Freshness• Limits Diversity• Increased Food

Safety Risk

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Distribution Models

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Existing Food Hubs

• There are number of different models in the province– Kawartha Ecological Growers– 100 Mile Foodservice– 100 KM Foods– Wendy’s Mobile Market

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Hybrid Model

• Fresh Start has operations in Milton, London, Ottawa

• Each location can generate a list of “regional” partnerships

• Also enables Fresh Start customers to access GFS’ larger local list including dairy, meat and processed foods

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Ontario Food Terminal

Everybody wants one!• Niagara/Hamilton• SCOR• Simcoe• London• Stratford• Ottawa

This was BEFORE there was funding.

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• If you build it, will they come?

In short, NO– Buyers have established networks that work, why would they

change them?

• Bricks and Motor costs outweigh the potential for profit.

– Research suggests using/leveraging existing infrastructure

What the Research Shows

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• How do we encourage the development of food hubs, but prevent the “me too” syndrome?

Find the Problem & Ask the Right Question

• How do we help farmers increase access to market?

Food Hub Grant Program

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• There is no one silver bullet.– Food hubs, terminals, co-operatives and processors all have a

role to play

• The Solution: – A more integrated distribution system, that is flexible and can

accommodate small, medium and large producers.– A system that allows farmers to distinguish themselves on

quality, methods of production and point of origin.

The Answer

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Regional Food Hub Pilot

• Supply Chain Logistics Support

• Determine Operating Costs and Cost-Benefit of Value Added Services for Food Hubs

• Create a Business Model• Conduct a Market

Assessment• Analyze Pilot Results• Write a Case Study

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It works!

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Integrating Distribution

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Integrating Distribution

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Regional Food Distribution

Learn More Twitter: #localfoodsolutions

@LocalFoodFranco

Find More Ontariofresh.ca

Franco NaccaratoProgram Manager – Greenbelt Fund

fnaccarato@greenbeltfund.ca