Regional Food Hub

Some of the ideas for proposals under this project include
 

• A matching service for connecting entrepreneurs with existing value-added resources in the region, such as licensed facilities at community kitchens or the services of specialty local food processors.
• Mobile food processing units. One proposed unit is the mobile "harvest house" for helping growers prepare their harvest for processing (peeling, coring etc.). Another is a mobile animal harvest unit to provide convenient federally inspected slaughter to livestock producers in the region. A third is a mobile kitchen for teaching cooking skills, such as educational sessions at farmers markets or training workshops in food handling.
• A food business park and incubator at Building 58 of the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The former site of food storage and processing for the historic asylum, Building 58 requires rehabilitation but offers built-in benefits, such as large coolers and warehouse spaces. The plan calls for three types of incubator facilities there: one for meat, fish, and poultry; another for baking and dairy; and one for preserves and sauces.