Food Hub Training Workshop Begins Feb. 7

Montana local food producers and business entrepreneurs interested in community food hub start-ups are invited to participate in a free online Food Hub training workshop on Tuesdays from 12 to 1 p.m. on Feb. 7, 14, and March 7, 14 and 21, 2023. Please visit http://www.hopamountain.org/local- food-for-local-families for information on how to join this five-part training series offering education and discussion about what a food hub is, various potential business structures, available software for networking local food producers, hubs and buyers together, and an opportunity to hear from a panel of existing successful Montana food hub businesses.

Grassroots community food hub enterprises support Montana farmers, ranchers and value-add producers while helping ignite community economic development. Annika Charter-Williams, rancher and founding member of the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub (YVFH) in Billings says, “Our food hub played an important role in providing our community with local food during the pandemic. YVFH continued to grow and serve our surrounding community and local producers but not without growing pains and learning curves. We were lucky to have resources to turn to when making big decisions.”

The Food Hub training program is offered by Hopa Mountain in partnership with Mission West Community Development Partners and Local Food Marketplace and others.

For additional information about rebuilding community food systems, please visit https://www.hopamountain.org/local-food-for-local- families or call Hopa Mountain’s main office at 406-586-2455.