Eolfc 2013 greenbelt foundation - regional food hubs

Post on 22-Jan-2015

152 views 0 download

Tags:

description

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. Franco Naccarato of the Greenbelt Foundation talks about their research into Regional Food Hubs in Ontario.

Transcript of Eolfc 2013 greenbelt foundation - regional food hubs

Food Hubs – Fuel For

A Regional Food System Franco Naccarato

Program Manager

Greenbelt Fund

@LocalFoodFranco

1

Local Food:

If you ask for it,

It will come.

3

• Understand where Food Hubs fit in the

food system

• Learn about a few different Ontario models

• Discover how Food Hubs can play a

bigger role in developing a Regional Food

System

Goals

Foodservice Distribution

Regional Hub Pilot Project

Pros vs Cons

6

Pros

• Efficient

• Less costly

• Increased

seasonality

• Increased variety

• Increased volume

Cons

• Prohibited access

• Focused on Price

• Loss of Freshness

• Limits Diversity

• Increased Food

Safety Risk

Distribution Models

8

Existing Food Hubs

9

• There are number of

different models in the

province

– Kawartha Ecological Growers

– 100 Mile Foodservice

– 100 KM Foods

– Wendy’s Mobile Market

Hybrid Model

10

• Fresh Start has operations

in Milton, London, Ottawa

• Each location can

generate a list of “regional”

partnerships

• Also enables Fresh Start

customers to access GFS’

larger local list including

dairy, meat and processed

foods

Ontario Food Terminal

11

Everybody wants one!

• Niagara/Hamilton

• SCOR

• Simcoe

• London

• Stratford

• Ottawa

This was BEFORE there was

funding.

12

• If you build it, will they come?

In short, NO

– Buyers have established networks that work, why would they

change them?

• Bricks and Motor costs outweigh the potential for profit.

– Research suggests using/leveraging existing infrastructure

What the Research Shows

13

• How do we encourage the development of food hubs,

but prevent the “me too” syndrome?

Find the Problem & Ask the Right Question

• How do we help farmers increase access to market?

Food Hub Grant Program

14

• There is no one silver bullet.

– Food hubs, terminals, co-operatives and processors all have a

role to play

• The Solution:

– A more integrated distribution system, that is flexible and can

accommodate small, medium and large producers.

– A system that allows farmers to distinguish themselves on

quality, methods of production and point of origin.

The Answer

Regional Food Hub Pilot

15

• Supply Chain Logistics Support

• Determine Operating Costs and Cost-Benefit of Value Added Services for Food Hubs

• Create a Business Model

• Conduct a Market Assessment

• Analyze Pilot Results

• Write a Case Study

16

It works!

17

Integrating Distribution

18

Integrating Distribution

19

Regional Food Distribution

Learn More

Twitter: #localfoodsolutions

@LocalFoodFranco

Find More Ontariofresh.ca

Franco Naccarato

Program Manager – Greenbelt Fund

fnaccarato@greenbeltfund.ca