Food Hub Basics

What is a food hub?

A food hub is a business or organization that gathers products from several farms, then markets and distributes them to buyers such as restaurants, schools, stores and individuals. Some are nonprofit, some are cooperatives and some are private companies. They may also offer storage, packing, processing, delivery and online ordering.

The details vary a lot from place to place, so do not assume that one hub works like another. Ask each one to describe its model in plain terms.

Hubs differ in how they treat product from very small farms. Some welcome small volumes and some set minimums, so ask about this early and be clear about what you can supply.

• Aggregation of products from many farms.
• Shared marketing and sales.
• Storage, packing or processing in some cases.
• Delivery to buyers.

What can a hub do for a small farm?

A hub can open doors to larger buyers that want a single supplier and a single invoice. It can save you time on sales and delivery, which many small farms struggle to manage. Some hubs also provide training in food safety, packing or pricing.

But a hub also sits between you and the customer, and it usually takes a share of the sale price to cover its costs. Think through whether your farm earns enough after that share to make the sales worthwhile.

• Access to larger or institutional buyers.
• Less time spent on sales and delivery.
• Possible help with food safety and training.
• A share of the price goes to the hub.

How do you find food hubs near you?

Ask your county extension office, your state department of agriculture and local farm organizations. Many states keep lists of hubs or local food networks. Ask other farmers which hubs they sell to and what their experience has been.

Visit in person if you can. See how product is handled, how clean the space is and how staff treat farmers. Ask for references from farms that have sold through the hub for a few seasons.

Check how long the hub has operated and how it is funded. Some hubs depend on grants or one large customer, and ask what would happen to farm suppliers if that support ended.

What questions should you ask a hub?

Ask how the hub sets prices, who sets them and what portion you receive. Ask how and when you are paid, what happens to unsold or rejected product, and what standards you must meet for quality and packing. Ask who carries liability if there is a problem.

Request written terms and read them carefully. If a contract is involved, have a qualified attorney or your small business development center help you review it before you sign.

• How are prices set, and what share do farmers keep?
• How soon are farmers paid?
• What happens to spoiled or rejected product?
• Does the hub require insurance or food safety steps?
• Can you sell to other buyers at the same time?

What standards and paperwork should you expect?

Most hubs set quality, packing and handling standards. Many also require proof of insurance and some form of food safety practice or certification. What is required depends on the product, the buyers and your state's rules.

Ask your state department of agriculture and your health department what applies to your products, and ask the hub what it adds on top. Prepare your records, such as harvest dates and lot information, before you apply.

Keep copies of every document you submit to the hub, including insurance papers and food safety records, and note when each expires so you can renew it on time.

How do you plan your production around a hub?

Hubs often ask for planned volumes ahead of the season. Be careful about overpromising. Start with a small share of your crop or animals, test the relationship and expand only when it works.

Keep selling through at least one other channel so your income does not rely on one buyer. A farm that depends on a single hub is exposed if that hub changes its terms or closes.

How do you review whether it is working?

After a season, look at your numbers: how much you sold, what you were paid after fees and how much time and cost went into packing and delivery. Compare that with what you earn from other channels.

Talk with the hub staff about what could improve. If it does not suit your farm, there is no shame in stepping back and choosing a different channel.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.