Local Food Hub

Food access Local Food Hub is committed to ensuring equitable access to fresh, Local Food. In 2023, its fresh farmacy program expanded to serve more than 600 households each week and partnered with other Local businesses to offer home delivery and other services. Thisallowed high risk participants to access fresh produce while safely sheltering in place and provided an important outlet for farmers. Local Food Hub continued to play a critical role in Local and regional Food justice and hunger relief efforts.

Market access Local Food Hub works to increase access to markets for farmers in central Virginia and across the state. Though it is no longer an official distributor, at the beginning of the pandemic it created the first drivethrough, preorder farmers market in the area to address problems with Food supply chains and small farmers needing to reach customers. The twice weekly markets have been a lifeline for consumers and farmers alike and reinvested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Local economy, with all proceeds going to the farms.

Grower services Local Food Hub provides critical technical assistance to area farmers with a special emphasis on Food safety and fairness in farming. It has helped dozens of farmers get Food safety certified, is developing the first Food safety app specifically for small farms and is creating a black farmer directory to increase purchasing from bipoc farmers.