The Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference (EOLFC 2013) provided a great opportunity to share information, learn about success stories and gather information on innovative local food businesses, projects and best practices. The conference was organized by KEDCO (Kingston Economic Development Corporation) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs. The theme of the conference was Innovation Driving Local Food and it was held December 3, 2013 at the Ambassador Hotel in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Presentation by Adam Diamond of American University on Food Hubs and eight case studies of food hubs.

1. Adam Diamond
Adding Value and Values: Food
Hubs as a Strategy for
Connecting Producers and
Consumers
Eastern Ontario Local Food Conference
Kingston, Ontario
December 3, 2013

3. Defining Food Hubs
“a business or organization that actively
manages the aggregation, distribution
and marketing of source-identified food
products, primarily from local and
regional producers to strengthen their
ability to satisfy wholesale, retail and
institutional demand,” United States Department of
Agriculture

6. Lessons from the Field
Moving Food Along the Value Chain:
Innovations in Regional Food Distribution
(Diamond & Barham, 2012)
Cooperatives
Nonprofits
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• Red Tomato (MA)
• Appalachian Harvest (VA)
• Growers
Collaborative/CAFF (CA)
• Big River Farms/MFA (MN)
La Montanita (NM)
Oklahoma Food Coop
New North Florida Coop
Coop Partners Warehouse
(MN)

8. Study Rationale
 Demand for locally produced food is skyrocketing and
presents excellent opportunities for small-scale
producers to exploit. However, they still face a number
of logistical and financial challenges that limit their
ability to serve and profit from these emerging markets.
 Small-scale producers are continually challenged by the
lack of distribution systems that can effectively link
producers to consumers within regions.

9. Study Objective
 To find out how different kinds of alternative
distribution models work and how effective they are in
creating new market channels for small-scale producers

10. Emergent Themes Across Models
I.
Infrastructure investment needs to match needs.
II.
Identity preservation is essential, yet operates in myriad
ways.
III.
Loose farmer networks can be effective at aggregating
product and gaining position in the marketplace.
IV.
Different organizational forms create both opportunities
and challenges.