Huon Valley Food Hub Business and Strategic Plan 2023

During COVID-19 research undertaken by the University of Tasmania (UTAS) found that in Tasmania there are: increasing rates of household food insecurity (25% in May/June 2021) particularly in rural Tasmanians; a very strong preference from local consumers to eat Tasmanian grown fruit and vegetables; Tasmanians seeking to support locally owned businesses; and an increased focus on sustainability and reducing waste at home and elsewhere in the food system (made more prominent as a result of bare supermarket shelves in the height of the pandemic).

The importance of creating a more resilient system to support the health, social and economic value in the local food system is therefore critical for responding to, and supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.

Internationally, regional food hubs have been used to build resilient regional economies that support locals to eat well, create more local jobs and increase economic activity when compared with a wholesale agriculture focus. In our case, the Hub has the opportunity to help address systemic challenges facing the community such as high rates of household food insecurity, workforce and skills shortages in the horticulture sector, and poor diet related health outcomes. It also provides the opportunity to improve collaboration and coordination, influence policy change and leverage increased demand for regionally grown produce.