We know that to work toward greater food and farm security for the Kearsarge area, we must work in partnership with statewide and regional food system efforts.
As 2019 came to a close, we wrapped up a two year research project with the USDA Local Food Promotion Program where we were conducting a needs and opportunities assessment for local food distribution in our area. Through that research, we came up with four recommendations to move toward greater distribution capacity and therefore food security. One of those recommendations was to establish a statewide food hub network to continue learning, sharing, and strengthening partnerships across organizations in New Hampshire (and one in Vermont - looking at you, Food Connects!)
Jessica Gorhan became the project leader for phase two of this research, which is being carried out through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. She is doing a tremendous job exploring how we can harness the power of collaboration. The timing could not be better with all that is going on in the world.
Jessica writes:
One night, a couple of days into the pandemic stay at home orders, after listening to the news about the potential collapse of our food system I had a huge idea. COVID-19 was showing the world what many of us who work in the food system already knew, there are huge inequities, inefficiencies, and flaws. As a food systems consultant that specializes in developing networks and collective impact strategies, I immediately started drawing network charts of how we could restructure our food distribution system from many different channels and strengthen our local food supply chain.
The pandemic has provided a key opportunity to disrupt the current food system and allow for change and improvements. Accomplishing this would mean local food would be more affordable, it would support more farmers, and local food would be accessible in retail environments for everyone. The next day I started to reach out to colleagues about this idea and we started dreaming about what our food system could be. Over the weeks to follow, just tossing the idea out to other colleagues we formed the Food Distribution Dreamers group.
Around the same time these conversations started I saw an ad from Kearsarge Food Hub and NH Food Alliance looking for a Project Manager to Develop a NH Food Hub Network. I was over the moon excited about the opportunity and it seemed so serendipitous! I immediately applied and was hired for the opportunity. My recent experience with co-founding a network and collective impact organization, Greater Nashua Food Council, and a recent consultant project I completed analyzing and mapping out Delaware’s food system, made me a great fit for the job. I was honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Kearsarge Food Hub, NH Food Alliance, Belknap Food Shed, Fresh Start Farms, Food Connects, and Three River Farmers Alliance through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant won by Kearsarge Food Hub, to create a NH Food Hub Network.
The key objectives are to:
- Complete a SWOT analysis
- Conduct a logistical analysis of product movement
- Facilitate a network development retreat
- Develop an implementation plan.
We have completed the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and found the five participating food hubs have very similar SWOTs. Through the initial logistical analysis, we have already identified some key opportunities for shared distribution.The spike in local food sales through the food hubs has already created natural opportunities for the hubs to buy and sell from each other. These opportunities have showed the importance of local food hubs and producers coming together to serve the community in a time of need and keep people safe.
Four out of the five hubs quickly shifted their sales models to offer curbside pickup and delivery to customers. The other hub ramped up it’s relationships with local food networks along the east coast, Eastern Food Hub Collaborative, to meet the increased demand in local food the other hubs were experiencing. This teamwork has led to the hubs successfully making sure NH community members have the food they need.
The Food Distribution Dreamers Team continues to advise the work we are accomplishing through the NH Food Hub Network project. From this advice we are talking with small and medium size distributors to find out how we can build relationships and do business to increase the sales of local food to other institutions, wholesalers, and retailers. Local food supports our local economy and creates equitable work environments and equitable access to fresh, local, healthy food. These are things that I am passionate about, which is why I feel so blessed to be working with these teams on this project!
Thank you for your hard work and dedication strengthening local food networks, Jessica!