The goal of this project is to create a set of action plans for regional food system development in oregon that: (1) identify opportunities for shared infrastructure (physical and human capital),…

This $294,322 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service's Regional Food System Partnerships program will fund Oregon State University to develop action plans and infrastructure for regional food system development in Oregon through 2023. Working with an existing network of eight local food hubs, OSU will research, train, and plan to identify shared physical and human capital opportunities. This includes infrastructure like trucks and cold storage, as well as expertise in food safety, marketing, and logistics. The partnership aims to prioritize racial equity, climate resilience, and fair labor practices in Oregon's food systems. By collaborating regionally on sourcing, branding, and larger market access, the food hubs seek to become more resilient and equitable through shared values and costs.

The goal of this project is to create a set of action plans for regional food system development in oregon that: (1) identify opportunities for shared infrastructure (physical and human capital), and (2) prioritize, in values and practices, racial equity, climate change resilience, and fair labor practices. Our partnership centers on an existing network of eight local food hubs who will collaboratively research, train, vision, and plan. These hubs will focus on connecting local growers to local/regional markets and/or on incubating and making local/regional market connections for value-added food businesses. Our long-term goal is a future where oregon food hubs are successful because they: share and practice a set of core values and principles that are fundamental to resilient and equitable regional food systems: racial equity, fair labor practices, and climate change resilience. Share costly but vital operational infrastructure, including physical assets like trucks and cold storageand human capital/systems like food safety expertise, marketing, and logistics. Source and market local food with unique attributes reflecting their individual regions. Aggregate food from their individual regions to sell collaboratively, under a shared brand or aligned set of brands, into larger urban markets in the pacific northwest the partnership includes the oregon food hub network, the oregon community food systems network, the oregon state university center for small farms, oregon economic development districts, oregon department of agriculture, and other partners who bring specific expertise.