A3.3 Processing and distribution hub
Rebuild regional capacity to process and distribute regionally-grown agricultural products to local markets (including restaurants, supermarkets, jails, schools, colleges, and hospitals).
The Puget Sound Food Hub Cooperative has been in operation since 2010, and “provides marketing, aggregation and distribution of the freshest seasonal produce, meat, dairy, and more, direct from Puget Sound area farmers and ranchers.” There’s a Southwest Washington Cooperative Food Hub too.
The Port of Olympia recently funded a value-added food processing assessment by WSU’s Thurston County Extension Service, which produced several pieces. (Facility design and planning was expected to happen in 2018.)
The Department of Agriculture recently awarded the Thurston Economic Development Council, the WSU Thurston County Extension, and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center a Local Food Promotion Program Planning Grant to develop a Southwest Washington Food Hub.
Local Orbit, which develops and sells sales and business management tools for local food aggregators, distributors, and producers, has a local food distribution toolkit.