Cultivating Connections for Local Food

Incorporated not-for-profit benefitting local farmers and food

processors in Lanark, Leeds Grenville & neighbouring Counties

TRFH: Here’s What We Do

• Build Markets: for local food at home and into Ottawa

• Increase Access: larger volumes and broader selection

• Season Extension: local food available year-round

• Value Added Products: access to processing equipment and inspected kitchen spaces

• Efficient, cost effective distribution: climate controlled trucking on behalf of multiple farms and processors

• Online Marketplace: one-stop local food shopping for businesses and households

Making good progress but challenges still ahead…

TRFH supplies local food to

local markets o 90+ producers & $600k sales:

o 31 vegetable growers & 6 fruit

growers

o 24 meat producers & 7 dairy

producers

o 13 food processors & co-ops

o 7 honey/syrup producers & 3

grain growers

“As a small food retailer we are incredibly lucky to have the Two Rivers Food Hub in our area. The Hub helps us consistently supply our customers with a variety of fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced food” Claire Sexton, Healthily Ever

After, Merrickville

TRFH: Gateway to Ottawa

Local Food Market Over 80% of the Hub’s

wholesale food sales are to

Ottawa buyers

An ever expanding market

base of high end restaurants

and food retailers.

TRFH delivers weekly, 12

months of the year

“Two Rivers Food Hub has allowed us to connect with buyers and markets we could have never accessed on our own. We are delighted with our partnership.” Robert & Shannon Miller Miller’s

Bay Farm, Rideau Ferry

Nurturing Emerging Farmers

TRFH year-round Local Food Basket guarantees

‘emerging farmers’ a regular, long-term market

for some of their products.

Over the past 2 years, 26 emerging farmers have

supplied to over 230 basket subscriptions, worth

~ $125k of local products.

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“Our food production, increased market access and connections to the farm community all continue to grow because of the Hub. We just bought our own farm.” Shelagh McGuinty, Earth’s Mirth

Price buffer and season

extender

Local food now available for sale 12 months a year

(over 20,000 cu ft of freezer & cooler storage)

Farmers using long-term cold storage and freezer

space, reducing end of season ‘fire sales’.

Ingredient and finished product storage for

Commercial Kitchen tenants

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“Because of TRFH’s convenient cold storage, I could increase the volume of fall crops I grew. I sold these vegetables along with my beef and pork (also stored at the Hub), well into the new year.” John Weatherhead, Waratah Downs Organic Farm

Food Processor Incubator

35+ food processors

utilizing TRFH

commercial kitchens

creating $2.5M of

retail products

annualized

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“By using the TRFH Commercial Kitchens I’ve increased production of the 30+ products I make by 700%, & expanded sales into several retail stores.” Jo’Anne Cassidy, Ashton Naturals

Job Creator 53+ new jobs

Two Rivers Food Hub: 7 new jobs (4 FT, 3 PT)

Commercial Kitchen: 30+ new jobs

Loon Kombucha = 6+FT, graduating to own facility, 500% increase in production, $25k grant from VH

Oat and Mill = 5 FT, 600% increase in sales, $19k VH grant

rND Bakery = 7 FT, delivers into Montreal, Ottawa and Kingston, 800% increase in sales

Garlic Pantry = 1 FT, 3-4 PT, 175% increase in garlic production

All About the Soup = 1 FT, 1PT, expanded to Ottawa outlets

Agape Gardens = 4 FT, 1500% increase in production

Farming Community: Estimated 16+ jobs

Based on $600,000 wholesale sales

13 jobs per $1M x 2.11X multiplier (USDA study)

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Training facilitator 10 workshops to date with over 600 participants

Producers Meeting (50)

Sour Grapes - everything

you wanted to know about

pickling (30)

Product to Market -

Regulatory Do’s and Don’t’s*

(40)

Small Food Business 101

(40)

Selling Food to Ontario

(100)*

Good Agricultural Practices

(GAP) - Assessing & Managing

Food Safety Risk in Produce

Production and Packing (20)*

Growing Hops in Eastern

Ontario (150)*

Growing Season Planning and

Chefs Potluck (80)

Good Food in Schools (70)

Selling Food to Ontario (40)*

**P9

* = partnership with OMAFRA

Helping Out

Giving-back boxes and donations to food drives

Facility support for charities and school food

programs

Filling the gaps when crises in the local food

network emerge (e.g. emergency storage,

transportation)

Collaborate with others in establishing other local

food projects

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More than an economic social enterprise,

TRFH is a key driver building a robust

local food system in Eastern Ontario.

New jobs

New farmers

New skills

New markets

New products

New distribution

channels

Money stays local

Improved food

security

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Making good progress but challenges still ahead…

Thank You

for your time

and consideration

TwoRiversFoodHub.com