by Kathleen Rhykus, Renewing the Countryside
The MN Farmers’ Market Food Hubs project began with the goal of giving small scale producers the opportunity to diversify market channels by aggregating products from multiple producers from the same area. This enables farmers to scale up and make more wholesale sales as well as create relationships with community institutions like schools and hospitals. Renewing the Countryside, in partnership with the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA) and the Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) have collaborated on this project, building on an innovative program that was piloted at the Wabasha County Farmers’ Market in 2016.
Customers, whether they are an individual, a local restaurant, retail store, hospital administrator, or school nutrition staff, can place orders online. The hubs then aggregate products, often from multiple farmers, based on the orders from the buyers. The hub's staff manage the online ordering platform, handle billing, and make sure all products going out to customers are in compliance with state and federal food safety regulations.
One popular product has been the Market Share box, which is an aggregated version of a CSA share that hub customers can sign up to receive throughout the season.
Kent Lorentzen, a producer with the Grand Rapids Farmers’ Market, says “It gives small to mid scale producers a chance to supply more customers with fresh produce”. Kent’s operation, Lorentzen Farm, experienced a 5.5% average increase in sales over the two years that he has been participating in the hub. “A fair amount of that was supplying market share boxes, which was a good fit for produce that was in the peak of the season. “It was a sure sale for that day and could just be dropped off at the market for aggregation, giving me time for other things.”
There are now hubs established in nine communities throughout the state: Aitkin, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Moorhead, Red Wing, Rochester, Virginia, Wabasha, and Willmar. Interested in selling at a farmers' market hub? The Minnesota Farmers' Market Association's website has links to each food hub's page on Open Food Network, where you can find contact details for the hub manager. If you have general project questions or would like more information about the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Food Hubs project contact Sara George from Renewing the Countryside at sara@rtcinfo.org.