For more information contact: Lynn Olson, General Manager, Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, 16 N. Carroll St., #810, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 561-8220 or (608) 556-3055, email: lolson@wifoodhub.coop
Description: The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative farmers and representatives from Wisconsin Farmers Union will meet on Wednesday, April 10th for a general membership meeting before launching their first season as a premier source for local foods in Wisconsin.
Madison, WI April 5, 2013 – The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, dedicated to allowing farmers better control of their markets and receive profitable prices for their products will soon be distributing fresh foods grown exclusively in Wisconsin. Creating new avenues for growers and buyers of locally grown fresh produce to come together, founders plan to engage community investment and participation in the cooperative to grow Wisconsin’s local food system.
Matching their varied production styles with the appropriate market, WFHC members will aggregate their produce to meet the larger volume requirements of intermediate buyers such as grocery stores, restaurants, schools and hospitals through existing distribution. The business will limit up-front risks for it’s farmers by providing sales, marketing and logistic services for commodity type produce, specialty produce, meats, cheese and value added products.
Co-op member, Mark Olson, President and Farmer for Renaissance Farm, Inc. in Spring Green:
“The Food Hub will provide a vital service by helping me access markets I could not service alone and that allows me to concentrate on what I do best, growing good food.”
“The service of matching my growing style to the proper market is a refreshing approach to developing the local food market.”
“It is great that all I have to do to access the local market now is join the co-op and be a good farmer. I do not need to be an account executive, sales person, marketer, logistics coordinator and a farmer.”
Tom Quinn, Executive Director of Wisconsin Farmers Union and founding WFHC member commented, “Our equity investment in the business fits well with our larger mission of assuring good prices for family farmers and developing competitive markets that support families and communities in Wisconsin.”
Lynn Olson, newly hired General Manager for the Co-op said, “The Food Hub is on the cutting edge of local food distribution with this model, and it’s an honor to promote the mission to keep farmers on the land in Wisconsin.”
Currently facilitated by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, the project originated from the community and a Dane County Economic Development initiative.
From 1:00pm to 1:30pm, media representatives and distributors are invited to attend an informal press conference to introduce the Co-op and growers at the Waunakee Village Center (333 S. Madison St., Waunakee, WI).
