The following is a press release from USDA and is another potential marketing tool and resource for small and medium size operations that are looking to market locally within the North Coast.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service launched an online resource that makes it easier than ever for small and mid-sized producers to find markets for their products.
With the new food hub web page, producers, buyers and others can now access a central clearinghouse for resources, news and information related to food hubs and similar enterprises that provide infrastructure support for small and mid-size producers. Contents of the web page will continue to evolve as USDA expands its understanding of the unique food hub business model, which pairs producers with buyers to serve local and regional food systems. Ultimately such enterprises support local economies and create jobs by offering services that enable farmers to break into new, higher-volume markets and preserving product identity.
The web page features information from numerous USDA agencies and other leading research and practitioner organizations in the public, non-profit and private sectors. A comprehensive, evolving directory of identified food hubs and financial resources will allow users to find desired markets quickly, without spending hours collecting information from various locales.
The information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/foodhubs.
Author - County Director Mendocino & Lake/Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor - Emeritus