Needs Assessment for the Establishment of Food Hubs Using Geographic Information Systems

Needs Assessment for the Establishment of Food Hubs Using Geographic Information Systems

Summary

We developed a list of 97 food hubs in the North Central Region and created a survey to record scope, resources, goals, and procedures of these different food hubs.  After piloting the survey with local foods specialists, we conducted the survey with food hub managers in the region with a 37% response rate.  Results of the survey exemplify the large variety of food hubs. Participants indicated a variety of ways to describe their business, range of customers and business organization types.  Due to these variations in size and scope amounts of resources needed to operate varied considerably.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. 1. A list of conditions that favor success of food hubs

1. 1. A process to establish a successful food hub

1. 1. Increased awareness of these conditions and process

1. 1. Increased awareness of how these conditions vary spatially and how the correct location can affect success or failure

1. 1. Use of this information to encourage the development of new food hubs.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Accomplished

• • Compiled list of 97 food hubs in the region

• • Conducted survey on required resources

• • Loaded food hub locations into GIS

Pending

• • Complete GIS analysis of food hub locations

• • Complete SWOT analysis

• • Submit Publications

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

1. 1. Increase number and size of markets for local producers

1. 1. Increase consumer access to local fresh produce through multiple supply chains

1. 1. Provide additional job and business opportunities in rural America.

Collaborators: