Gather and learn with the food hub organizers, farmers, and advocates working together to strengthen our regional food system.
Northwest Food Hub Network Summit
Each year, the Northwest Food Hub Network Summit convenes local food systems organizers from around the region for a day of dialogue, learning, and relationship-building. The 2024 edition of the event was hosted Friday, February 16 on the campus of Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and brought together more than 150 participants.
2024 Network Summit Recap
Date & Time: Friday, February 16 from 8am-4pm PST
Photos from the 2024 Network Summit - coming soon!
Flyers & Handouts
Our Food Hubs. The Northwest Food Hub Network is a collective of cooperative food hubs representing 250+ local food producers across Washington and Montana. This handout offers an overview of our approach to sharing inventory, services, and infrastructure to offer a sustainable sourcing alternative for communities.
Year in Review. In 2023, our network facilitated nearly 100 hub-to-hub inventory trading transactions to help deliver more than $2 million in local food to community institutions like K-12 schools, hospitals, and universities.
Salmon-Safe Certification. Salmon-Safe promotes sustainable land management practices that protect water quality and preserve habitats. Our partnership is now bringing their program to environmentally conscious growers across the region by offering free enrollment for farms participating in the Network's GroupGAP program.
USDA Regional Food Business Center. Co-led by Colorado State University and Oregon State University, the USDA Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) supports farms, ranches, and food supply chain businesses through technical assistance, direct investments, and coordinated resource sharing.
GroupGAP Program. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification is a voluntary USDA audit program that farmers can use to demonstrate produce safety compliance to buyers. Our GroupGAP program reduces barriers to certification and provides no-cost technical assistance for growers navigating the audit process.
8am - Coffee & Breakfast. Use this informal gathering time at the start of the day to get acquainted with your peer organizers, producers, state agency staff, and community supporters.
9am - Building the Network. An update from the Northwest Food Hub Network project team on our latest organizing efforts, market breakthroughs, and plans for the year ahead.
10am - Value Chain Investments. A behind-the-scenes look at upcoming USDA initiatives with program leads from the Northwest & Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center.
11am- Growing Farm to School. F2S advocates describe how they’re using values-based purchasing and education to bring students closer to their local farms and the food that they grow.
12pm - Lunch Break. A locally sourced meal served on site featuring ingredients from our producers. Take this time to catch up and catch your breath before we reconvene next hour.
1pm - Perspectives from the Field. Cooperative organizers and members share how they’re promoting economic democracy, social responsibility, and ownership of our regional food system.
2pm - Networking Beyond the Northwest. Learn how food hub networks like ours are taking shape across the country and how we’re sharing knowledge to grow stronger together.
3pm - Wrap-Up Remarks. A look ahead to next year and how to stay involved in the meantime.
Questions? Contact the Network’s Program Manager, Charlie Michel at charlie.michel@missionwestcdp.org.