Evaluating Local Food Hubs as Alternative Food Systems to Preserve Specialty Crop Producers and Build Resilient Communities in North Central Florida

Project Overview

GS20-231
Project Type: Graduate Student
Funds awarded in 2020: $14,028.00
Projected End Date: 02/28/2022
Grant Recipient: University of Florida
Region: Southern
State: Florida
Graduate Student:
BHAGATVEER SANGHA
Email
Major Professor:
Dr. Jonathan Watson
Email
University of Florida

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Farm Business Management: new enterprise development
  • Sustainable Communities: food hubs

    Abstract:

    In response to the economic, environmental, and social concerns associated with the current mainstream and industrialized food system, there has been a growing preference for alternative and local food systems. Current alternative and local marketing channels are predominantly direct-to-consumer marketing channels such as farmers markets, which still account for a very small portion of total food sales in the US. They cannot supply the necessary volumes required for meeting the increased demand of local foods. A major obstacle to meeting the demands of increased localization is the lack of economic, organizational, and physical structures of the appropriate scale. There has been an increased research interest to explore upscaled local food supply chains as efficient market channels to supply food sourced from local growers to wholesale buyers such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals. Our hypothesis was that this can be achieved through the establishment of food hubs. With the rising popularity, a food hub is a dynamic and evolving concept and can be defined on the basis of purpose and stakeholders served. The main objective of our study was to propose a conceptual value added food hub business model and evaluate differing needs and expectations of stakeholders for a food hub in North Central Florida. We also aimed to evaluate specific opportunities and challenges for potential food hub establishment in North Central Florida. The needs assessment survey studies of small and medium sized producers as well as school districts in North Central Florida were conducted. It was found that while significant opportunities exist for food hubs in North Central Florida, it is equally challenging for food hubs to meet the expectations of all stakeholders. Food hubs should strive to remain financially viable while meeting their social and community objectives.

     

    Project objectives:

    Objective 1

    To conduct a conceptual review of the food hub concept, explore different challenges faced by food hubs and propose an ideal and conceptual value-added food hub business model

    Objective 2

    To evaluate the differing needs and expectations of stakeholders when evaluating food hub development in North Central Florida

    Objective 3

    To evaluate specific opportunities and challenges for potential food hub establishment in North Central Florida

     

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.