The Intervale Food Hub acts as a link in our local food system

We provide critical infrastructure and connectivity for farmers and their customers in Chittenden County. Many aspects of our local food system rely on access that the Intervale Food Hub provides: farmers accessing markets; added-value producers accessing storage infrastructure; institutional buyers and individuals accessing local product; delivery networks connecting with each other; community members accessing free food.  

The Intervale Food Hub’s commitment to these many facets of access is a vital component of the Intervale Center’s mission to strengthen community food systems that support farms, land, and people. Through this work, we support diversified food production that balances the needs of people and planet. 

FOOD HUB history

The Intervale Food Hub has been a center for food systems innovation since its inception in 2007. Beginning with a simple wholesale and direct to consumer program, the Intervale Food Hub quickly found its niche in both realms. Retail programming grew quickly by introducing home delivery and an online POS system. Alongside, the Intervale community of farmers recognized the value of surplus crops in their field and coordinated with the Intervale for the distribution of gleaned produce to social service partners. In 2011, we expanded this work with the launch of Fair Share, a free CSA program. In 2015, our Food Hub turned the wholesale programs focus to institutional distribution by partnering with UVM Sodexo. Since then, the Food Hub has made many changes to better reflect the needs of our community. In 2020, we expanded our Fair Share programming to serve 300+ families each growing season, housed the Everyone Eats program, and extended our food access programming into the winter. In 2023, the Food Hub closed its retail operations, and the Everyone Eats program, a pandemic-era project that relied on federal funding, after providing over 400,000 meals to people in need. 

Today, the Intervale Food Hub continues to focus on access, with operating a gleaning and food access program year-round, offering services like cross-docking and cold storage to farmers, connecting farmers with markets through wholesale opportunities, and engaging local institutions, organizations, and businesses in the local food system. Through this work, we hope to increase food security and farm viability. 

WHAT IS A FOOD HUB?

Food hubs across the world are transforming our food system by connecting small-scale producers with larger-scale markets, and connecting people in many ways to access food that is locally sourced. Food hubs revolutionize our supply chain to one that is transparent and beneficial to both producers and consumers! 

We are one of 230 food hubs in the USDA Local Food Directory. Every hub looks different, and ours has adapted to the needs of our community over time to include food access programming, wholesale distribution, and services for farmers.  

We seek to meet the needs of our community and welcome your input. Are you a farmer, organization, or individual with a need our Food Hub may be able to help with through our network and/or facility? Reach out to our team.  

Need access to farm business services, land, or coaching? Learn more about our Farm Business Planning services.