Food Hub

Facilitating Farm to Table: Kansas City Food Hub

Any good goal is worth the effort. Three years ago folks from 13 different organizations came together to create a healthier local food system. The Kansas City Food Hub Working Group was established as a part of the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition’s initiative to advance institutional purchasing of local foods.

Over the past year, the Food Hub Working Group has conducted a thorough feasibility study resulting in detailed financial projections and strategic recommendations. The good news for all of us is that a viable, sustainable food hub can be established in Kansas City.

“Careful research now provides a clear picture of regional supply and demand. Strong partnerships will leverage that information to advance supply, demand, and distribution infrastructure in the context of a values-based food system,” said Emily Lucas, local project manager for the feasibility study. In the next few months, the group will move into the first phase of implementation and business planning.

The Greater Kansas City Food Hub will not only provide regional hospitals, schools, and hunger agencies with a consistent, reliable source for local produce, but it will also strengthen our local food economy by spurring increased production as farmers receive competitive prices for their goods.

Keep abreast of the progress at www.kcfoodpolicy.org.

“People tell me all the time that small farming is not profitable. I am on a mission to help remedy this, and I think the Food Hub is part of the fix.”

- Katie Nixon, Chair of the KC Food Hub Working Group