LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

Expand food infrastructure so local and regional food producers can gather, distribute, and market their food products to serve local needs

LEVERAGE COMMUNITY-LEVEL INVESTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM

Local Food Supply Chain

Create wholesale, retail, and institutional food supply chains (aka food hubs) that connect more residents to healthy food while also strengthening the local economy. Develop relationships with local and regional businesses that gather, distribute, and market food from local and regional farmers and other producers, prioritizing Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) organizations, as outlined by the EFOD Steering Committee. Programs should also open new markets for BIPOC farmers and other producers at regional institutions (schools and hospitals), address storage and distribution issues, and connect with existing programs such as SNAP and double bucks. This will assist people who are food-insecure, have been impacted by COVID-19, or have other priority needs to access healthy food.

This promising strategy requires investment in:

  • Local and rural food hub infrastructure, staffing and their coordination
  • Food storage, processing, and distribution
  • Technical assistance for relationship building between farmers and institutions
  • Support for sustainable business planning

Evaluation of Promising Strategy in Initial Target Regions

Learn more about the Investment Map’s selection of Initial Target Regions.