USDA invests in local food hub

WAUPACA – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson announced on Monday, March 30, that the agency is investing in the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative located in Waupaca.
The farmer-owned food cooperative aims to increase minimally processed vegetables in schools and childcare centers throughout Wisconsin. The cooperative will use a $250,000 grant for working capital to provide packets of grab-and-go sizes of fresh broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and radishes.
“Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA Rural Development remains committed to ensuring that children in Wisconsin have access to safe, healthy food,” said Iverson. “From farm fields to schools and childcare centers, this investment will expand the availability of nutritious options for children across the state so they can learn and grow. The Make America Healthy Again movement is helping strengthen families and build healthier communities across Wisconsin.”
The selected assortment of vegetables will allow year-round product availability through farmer owners of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative and can be processed efficiently by farmer owner Olden Produce LLC. Carrots, kohlrabi and radishes will be cut into matchsticks, which is a cut size smaller than the standard carrot stick. Broccoli and cauliflower will be cut into florets.
The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative will use the funding for working capital expenses, marketing, processing labor, delivery labor, and sales processing labor. The project will help save seven jobs.