Do you represent an institution in Johnson or Linn County Iowa that prepares and serves food to hundreds of community members daily? If so, read on to learn how the Field to Family Food Hub can help procure more sustainable, healthy and high-quality local ingredients for your kitchen.
What is a “food hub?”
A food hub serves as a connector between small-scale local farmers and wholesale and direct-to-consumer food buyers. The hub procures and delivers high quality, locally and sustainably grown produce and other local foods in bulk, helping create a stable supply of local produce for buyers and market access for producers.
What kinds of products does the food hub distribute?
The Field to Family Food Hub distributes many varieties of local produce, as well as some dairy products. We hope to start selling meat, honey and other value added products soon.
What kinds of customers can buy from the food hub?
The food hub primarily serves “wholesale” customers: places that feed many people on a daily or weekly basis. These could be public institutions like schools, universities, hospitals or nursing homes; food access organizations like food pantries; businesses like restaurants or caterers; or any other food service institution.
The food hub also serves individual consumers and households through the Online Farmers Market. Learn more here.
What are some benefits of buying local food through the food hub?
Local food has many benefits including…
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- Quality: Local food is fresher than food that travels across the country or world to reach consumers. It is harvested and sold at peak ripeness.
- Sustainability: Local food consumes fewer resources in transportation. The small-scale farmers we partner with generally create less environmental impact than industrial farms and generally utilize fairer labor practices.
- Economics: Buying local keeps your dollars in the community, helping farmers in the area support their small businesses.
- Marketing: Today’s consumers care more about where their food comes from and how it was produced than ever before. Show the people you serve that you share their values by preparing meals with locally and responsibly sourced ingredients. We will provide you with the support and resources you need to introduce those foods and farmers to your clientele.
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Does the Food Hub profit from sales?
The Food Hub charges a margin in order to cover our operational costs like delivery and storage. As a non-profit we strive for financial sustainability of this project so we can continue to serve as a connector for local customers and producers well into the future.
How does price compare to my regular distributor?
Some prices are similar or less than those of larger food distributors while other products are more expensive in order to pay farmers fairly for their labor and inputs. Email [email protected] to receive weekly price lists.
Does the hub source year round?
Yes. While most produce is available seasonally, we work with some producers who use season extension methods to keep items like lettuce available year round. We also source non-produce items like dairy that have no season.
How can wholesale customers place an order?
Wholesale buyers can order from the Field to Family Food Hub three ways:
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- Shop local wholesale products on our online order platform.
- Carts open Wednesday at noon to Friday at 10 a.m.
- Email [email protected]
- Call/text Sales Rep Giselle Bruskewitz 224-402-0368
- Shop local wholesale products on our online order platform.
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