Southern SAWG Food Hub Learning Group

Don't miss our next webinar on Monday August 18, 2014 at 4 pm EDT / 3 pm CDT.

Developing Food Hubs with Limited Resource Producers and in Low Income Communities 

Andrew Williams and Glyen Holmes will discuss how to be resourceful and creative in developing food hubs with limited resource producers and in low income communities. Using examples from their work in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, they will address the following issues:

• Creating awareness (i.e. the interest in producing and purchasing local foods)
• Funding strategies
• Finding and developing infrastructure
• Marketing strategies
• Sustaining efforts after the start-up phase

Andrew Williams graduated with a degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Development from Alabama A&M in 1975. He began employment with the Alabama Soil Conservation Service in 1976, and worked there, as a district conservationist, soil conservationist, RC&D coordinator, and then State Outreach Liaison, until retirement in early 2009. Andrew continues to assist small-scale family farmers and underserved producers through The United Christian Community Association (TUCCA) and a new project, the Deep South Food Alliance. The Alliance is engaging small scale farmers in West Alabama and East Mississippi to aggregate farm-raised products for markets in both urban and local rural areas.

Glyen Holmes has over 25 years of experience working closely with small-scale farmers in market development, production and value-added agriculture in the Southeast. He received an Agronomy degree from Alcorn State University (MS) and worked for USDA for 18 years before entering the private sector as Executive Director of the New North Florida Cooperative. Under his leadership, the New North Florida Cooperative has developed an approach that helps school food service incorporate locally or regionally grown fruit and vegetables into child nutrition programs.  

 This collaborative Farm to School effort has demonstrated an innovative way to promote healthy eating and enhance nutrition for school meals while cultivating schools as a local market for small-scale farmers. The Farm to School model focuses on networking and capacity building among small farmers in the Southeast. Glyen has worked with farmers, school districts and numerous collaborative partners in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee.  

Recently, he established the Holmes County Food Hub in Durant, MS to help develop the Farm to School model in partnership with the local school district and regional small-scale farmers.