What IS the NWCT Regional Food Hub?
Go to: nwctfoodhub.org to find out!
The Hub supports farmers by connecting them with larger and more consistent wholesale markets for their farm products. Currently, the Hub aggregates locally grown food from 30 farms in our region and has the capacity to both pick up and deliver produce. The Hub also has an online ordering and billing system. The Hub is operated by the local non-profit organization, Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities.
The NWCT Food Hub aggregates source-identified locally grown and produced food. They pick up produce from farmers around our region and deliver it to wholesale customers who want to know where their food comes from. In this way we make it possible for farmers to work together to meet the growing demand for local, sustainable food in our area. Farmers benefit from the marketing, selling, packaging and delivering of their produce, which continues to identify their farm as the source. Our online marketplace brings fresh, healthy, locally grown and produced food to restaurants, schools, grocery stores and institutional buyers, in a cost-effective manner on a weekly basis. The NHCOG has supported this project from feasibility study, through launch, to today.
The Food Hub is also participating in the following programs:
- Farm-to-School – The Hub has been working with school districts in our region on detailed planning for local food procurement through the Hub to get local on the plates of our school kids.
- Senior Nutrition– The Hub has provided seniors at the Winsted Senior Center with a share of fresh produce with funding from Fit Together.
- Produce Prescription– This pilot program provided a free weekly share of fresh produce from the Hub for a 15-week period to 150 low income residents of Torrington and Winsted to improve health outcomes through access to fresh produce.
The NWCT Food Hub would not be possible without its partners and supporters. Partners/Supporters include:
- The Draper Fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation,
- Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Farm Viability Grant Program
- Northwest Hills Council of Governments,
- Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area
- Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
If you are interested in more information about the Hub, please visit nwctfoodhub.org or contact Jocelyn at NHCOG.