This project will transform the capabilities of food hubs in the region, and their potential for sellingregional products by bringing together producers, distributors, foodhubs, local food enterprises…

This $666,300 block grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will fund the Boston Area Gleaners Inc. to develop a regional food hub network across the six New England states. Under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB, CFDA 10.170), the project aims to transform regional food hub capabilities and connect producers, distributors, food hubs, enterprises and customers into a single distribution network. Key deliverables include developing new markets for agricultural producers to increase revenue, reducing distribution costs through logistical efficiencies, and connecting regional producers to value-added processing centers. Anticipated outcomes over the March 2022 to March 2025 period include increased customer exposure and reputation for New England specialty crops and brands, as well as an expansion of producers benefiting from the Boston market to increase profits and decrease on-farm food loss.

This project will transform the capabilities of food hubs in the region, and their potential for sellingregional products by bringing together producers, distributors, foodhubs, local food enterprises andcustomers into a single network. This network will increase the volume of regional produce reachingconsumers in eastern massachusetts and will connect the dots of food businesses across new england.project objectives include:1.developing access to new markets for agricultural producers in the six new england states, thereby increasing their revenue.2.reducing distribution costs for new england produce through increased logistical efficiencies.3.connecting regional producers with value added processing centers.expected outcomes include: increased customer exposure to a wider variety of new england products, adeveloping reputation for freshness among new england brands, an increase in the number of producersbenefiting from serving the boston market, an increase in producer profi T, and a decrease in on-farm foodloss.