Michigan agriculture officials are pointing to a community college food distribution center as the template for a statewide program designed to expand local food access to institutional buyers.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has designated the ValleyHUB Food Hub located at Kalamazoo Valley Community College as the model for their recently launched Good Food for Michigan Project.
According to Director Tim Boring, who spoke with Brownfield, the program is designed to expand opportunities for schools, hospitals, and similar large-scale food buyers to source products locally. “It’s breaking down these barriers so [institutions can access local food more easily],” Boring explained.
The initiative focuses on removing obstacles that have traditionally prevented institutional buyers from purchasing food from local and regional producers, potentially creating new market opportunities for farmers while improving food access in communities.
