Hi Everyone,
We had a really productive first meeting the other night and had some lively discussion about the
potential benefits a food hub could offer. It was very encouraging to see the level of interest from
the five counties.
For both those who were able to attend and those who were not able to attend, we wanted you to
have the presentation and notes from the meeting. As you will see from the presentation, there is
lots of information on food hub models that we didn't get a chance to cover, but will definitely
discuss in our next session. The presentation is too big a file to send via email so please see the
link below to download
it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vj8h5gl2e3itrp/Huron%20Food%20Hub%20%20Presentation%20-%20Meeting%20Aug%2028%202013%20-%20Final.pdf
The main outcome of our meeting on August 28th was that the group agreed that there was
sufficient interest to meet again and further explore the potential for a viable distribution hub for
local food serving multiple jurisdictions. Attendees also agreed to invite other interested
colleagues to the next planning session. We will be in touch shortly with information and a date
for our next planning session. I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting!
Also, I'd just like to acknowledge Huron Business Development Corporation for generously
supporting this planning process.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Ryan
Ryan Turnbull, M.A.
Social Enterprise and Sustainability Consultant
Eco-Ethonomics Inc.
______________________
Food Hub Central
August 28th, 2013
Minto Council Chambers, Harriston
Attendees:
Alyson Nyiri - Perth Community Futures, Barb Fisher-Bruce Community Futures,
Christina Mann - Guelph Wellington Local Food, Gayl Creutzberg - Gumboot Gourmet, Jeff
Koehler - Grey County farmer and OFA VP, Kimberley Kowch - Community Development,
Municipality of North Perth , Laurie Thomas - Bruce County farmer, Mandy Jones Economic Development , Town of Minto, Michael Holzworth - North Perth farmer, Paul
Nichol - Huron Business Development Corporation , Philly Markowitz - Economic
Development, Grey County, Rose Austin - Saugeen Business Development Corporation, Tom
Schell - SWEA Sustainable Food Systems Fran McQuail - Huron County farmer Mel Luymes
- Wellington County Farmer
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*Representatives from the following municipalities attended: Huron, Perth, Grey, Bruce and
Wellington and included CFDC managers, municipal EDs, local food coordinators, OFA
representation from Grey and Perth, and farmers. A 1/3 of those in attendance were farmers!
Facilitators: Ryan Turnbull and Mary Ferguson
Objectives of the Meeting were to:
• Provide background information on food distribution hub activities in Perth and
Huron Counties
• Hear about food hub business models
• Gauge interest for a regional food hub from multiple jurisdictions
• Form a collaborative business planning team interested in working on the business
plan over the next 4 months
Agenda included: (see Power Point for Details)
• Welcome
• Review Meeting Objectives and Agenda
• Introductions
• Backgrounder
• Project Vision Statement Overview
• Combined Visioning
• Perth County Feasibility Study
• Business Concept and Model Options Discussion
• Overview of Business Planning Process
• Working Together: Team Work and Communications
• Timeframe and Next Steps
Discussion included:
 Emphasis repeatedly on "where is the viability point?", the importance of a solid
financial model
 local branding and forms of certification to protect the brand, but still allowing for
even more localized branding within a larger 5 county brand. Italy has a great model
of an overall system with regional recognition.
 that an online component is essential and that there are many open source software
models available as well as the software being used by the Stratford Local
Community Food Centre.
 the importance of engaging farmers and buyers at the outset, and to make buyers
more aware of the policy/regulations that affects their purchase of local food.
Perceptions of local not being inspected are hampering sales.
 3 key processes that need to happen: engage farmers and buyers, marketing plan,
the core that holds it all together that must be viable (operations)
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Notes
How could a Food Hub Central assist or enhance the work currently going on in each
municipality?
 Would give confidence to families to diversify and pass on their farms to younger
generation
 Small producers could be sustainable
 90% of Grey County’s producers are small farmers
 Alleviate the stress on producers including:
o Driving long distances (i.e. time off the farm)
o Hours of direct marketing online
 Could take pressure off
 Help develop new markets and opportunities
 All local producers would have the opportunity to supply their neighbors and a
larger market if they were interested
 Multi-stakeholder engagement is key
o Need producers at the table
o Should engage retailers too
o Have representatives from the whole supply chain
o Have representation from the County economic development officers
 Lots of food initiatives going on in each of the five municipalities, and these projects
need to be recognized in planning.
The 'ideal' hub would offer:
 A marketplace for the next generation (instead of having to build their customer
base over a 20+ year period)
 Helps small farmers
 Eliminates driving and direct marketing hours spent away from farming, time could
instead be used for value adding
 Create new markets, including ethnic markets, and custom grow to demand
 Help the local food movement. It is significant but needs momentum.
 Offer tourists a place to purchase on the way to cottage (a hub serving a large area
would only attract a small nearby customer base, however products could be
distributed to other local outlets, such as 100 mile markets and retail stores)
 24 hours, so that farmers can drop into cool storage any time of day or night.
 Brokering service is one model where Hub does not own product but offers a flow
through.
 A 'terminal' that would suit the buying habits of larger grocery stores like Loblaws
 A big space to 'play' with local food, a hosting site for other projects to operate out
of, such as the Good Food Box.
 A place to visit and learn (school trips, farmers learning about sustainable farming
practices, eaters) - all stages along the whole value chain would be in one place
 Sustainable farming practices demonstration site
 A community place where people become engaged
 Financially viable
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Next Steps
1. Consulting team will send the presentation to the attendees
2. Attendees will read and consider the food hub presentation and invite individuals
with knowledge and interest in working through the process of business planning,
realizing that it is these people who will be researching and writing the business
plan over the next 4 months.
3. Plan the next community meeting
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