Evolving Connections
The Local Palate|Summer 2023
Food hubs in the Southeast are expanding to serve changing community needs
MARGARET LITTMAN
Evolving Connections

in 2022, GrowFood Carolina, one of South Carolina's leading food hubs, expanded into a new operating space with a test kitchen in hopes of teaching a new generation how to cook with the fresh food they provide. In its 12 years in existence, the Charleston-based nonprofit has returned more than $10 million to farmers in rural communities in the state, about 80 percent of its sales revenue. Today, GrowFood works with more than 120 farmers in the state.

Food hubs aren't new, of course. Like GrowFood, many have been around for more than a decade, during a period that was fertile for the launching of these types of organizations. In recent years many models and missions have evolved from solely offering aggregation and distribution to looking at even more ways of getting local and regional foods into shoppers' kitchens.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food hub as "a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products, primarily from local and regional producers to strengthen their ability to satisfy wholesale, retail, and institutional demand." This broad definition is primarily used for applying for grants and is not a regulatory definition.

"What makes a food hub special rather than a conventional wholesaler is the value that we put on relationships," says Anthony Mirisciotta, general manager of GrowFood Carolina.

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av The Local Palate.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av The Local Palate.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE LOCAL PALATESe alt
Fit for a King
The Local Palate

Fit for a King

Tupelo beckons with great bites and beverages, plus plenty of Elvis lore

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Spring Forward
The Local Palate

Spring Forward

In a city as diverse as Houston, whatever you crave is on the plate—sometimes in the most surprising places

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Dine and Dash
The Local Palate

Dine and Dash

Small-town charm meets urban dining and culture in southern Kentucky

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
In With the Old and the New
The Local Palate

In With the Old and the New

This popular DC neighborhood keeps its historic charm while offering an increasingly diverse and eclectic food scene

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
SOAKING IT UP
The Local Palate

SOAKING IT UP

A nourishing 48-hour retreat awaits in Bath County, Virginia

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
time TRAVEL
The Local Palate

time TRAVEL

Retracing memories on a family road trip from Alabama to Tennessee

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans
The Local Palate

Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans

A seven-hour, food-fueled trip from one state capital to another has no shortage of great stops along the way. Just make sure to drive hungry.

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY
The Local Palate

A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY

The Sunshine State is making a splash with craft distilleries

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE
The Local Palate

CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE

In Jackson County, you'll find scenic getaways for families, couples, and solo travelers alike

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Island Days
The Local Palate

Island Days

Explore the land of seafood, Spanish moss, and sunsets in Jekyll Island, Georgia

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024