May 11th, 2016

"So organic farming practices are something that, to me, are interlinked with the idea of using biodiesel."  -Daryl Hannah

We in the food hub business are meeting in Pueblo and Colorado Springs this week about launching our Colorado Food Hub Network.  This is a hub-to-hub distribution system that will allow trading of each hub’s top products.  We can offer our potatoes, quinoa, eggs, and top produce and can access the Western slope’s peaches & cherries, and the Front Range green chiles.  It’s about working together for the maximum benefit of each food hub.  It is a kind of altruism that is spread across economics, trucking, and food supply.  Sound idealistic?  Who said food hubs were conventional?  Stay tuned for updates, and in the meantime get ready for cherry season!
Why We're Different Part 3: We Need Each Other
Let’s face it.  We need you.  Absolutely.  Being a local distributor in a rural part of the state, our target customers are not the countless and nameless ones in the cities, but the ones like yourself that are doing this work within our communities feeding our friends, families, and neighbors.  We don’t have a lot of choice with who are customers are. YOU are unique, forward thinking, and community-minded.

In the long run, I believe, you need us too.  We are only going to become more efficient and more diverse in bringing you the cornucopia of the region to your door-step on one invoice.  We are also going to be less impacted by global financial crashes, and as we work on our renewable fuel systems, we should be less impacted by global fuel fluctuations in price and supply.  Smaller, more nimble, and existing on renewable sunshine: that’s our goal.  We are not driven by profits, we are driven by break-even sustainability.

Let’s also face the fact that the broadline distributors don’t need EITHER of us.  They would continue on fine without us, and that fact alone unites and bonds us within our local food system.

Lastly, out of the $19 billion dollars spent on food in Colorado every year, only 5% was produced in Colorado.  That means that if we just add another 20% of local food into this mix, we both have an incredible opportunity for tremendous growth: $4.75 billion dollars!  Just saying….

Have a great week, and well, let’s hope for the warmer part of spring to begin!

Nick