Greater Kansas City Food Hub Working Group: Building Relationships and Collaboration

15 Partner Organizations KC FOOD HUB WORKING GROUP KC Healthy Kids: Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition, Farm To School Academy Cultivate Kansas City Lincoln University Cooperative Extension University of Missouri Extension Kansas State University Research and Extension Councilman Scott Wagner’s office of Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City Economic Development Corporation Good Natured Family Farms Fresh Food Express Supply Chain Networking Door to Door Organics Conveniently Natural Kansas City Food Circle Society of St Andrew Independence, Missouri School District

Multiple Sectors Represented SECTORS /DISCIPLINES Agricultural entrepreneurship Academia Agriculture extension City government County government Community and economic development Community organizing and social services Food production Food distribution Food retail: grocery store, mobile market and delivery services Hunger relief Policy development Urban planning

Guiding Values: Our Vision and Mission VISION The Greater Kansas City Food Hub will enable regional growers to sell fresh, high quality produce and will provide Kansas City businesses with a venue to purchase locally grown and processed food. GOALS Spur increased production of vegetables and fruits Provide small and medium producers a trustworthy market Enable institutions to consistently and reliably secure local food Support increased regional food security

Healthy Regional Food System

Regional Coordination REGIONAL PARTNERS: Critical stakeholders driving enterprise objectives and structure. Beans&Greens KC Healthy Kids Farm to School Academy Society of St. Andrew Douglas County (KS) Food Policy Council Brown County (KS) Healthy Foods Coalition o Good Natured Family Farms Goode Acres Food Hub Hardesty Renaissance complex MU Extension’s Farm to School project o Kansas Farmers Union Kansas Rural Center

Regional Benefits BENEFITS TO REGION  Increase viability of family farms - cooperative ability to negotiate prices and the opportunity to scale up production by accessing new markets  Increase supply of locally produced, healthy food in institutions such as hospitals and schools  New, consistent sources of fresh, locally grown produce for organizations improving food access and health within low-income populations  Coordination strategies among food hub efforts across the region that maximize their collective success  Identify policy recommendations that address regional production distribution and purchasing barriers

Feasibility Study Project Plan PhaseKey outcomesKey datesPartner support Opportunity Identification Interview project partners. Enterprise objectives and study focus finalized by stakeholders. August – interviews August 29 – kickoff meeting September 15 – final decision Market and Production Analysis Projected demand and supply of produce, anticipated market and production challenges, and strategies to address these. December – launch surveys Jan/Feb – buyer/grower meetings Infrastructure Analysis Infrastructure assessment to identify excess capacity and resources to be put to use. Regional food systems map. Winter – research conducted March – finalized Rec’s for Scale and Scope Operating model and scale proposed; go/no-go decided by Steering Committee. Late April – decision-making meeting Site Specifications [If food hub is green lighted] Sites proposed and capacity models developed. May and June Feasibility Study Final feasibility study report complete and presented to steering committee, to provide foundation for business plan. July Project Management Regional visits and steering committee meetings Ongoing. Key visits: Aug, Nov, Jan-Feb, April, July 8

Thank you! Emily Miller Policy and Planning Associate KC Healthy Kids