Helping local food producers meet the growing demand for their products is the focus of the latest Community Solutions Lab initiative hosted by the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) at Smith School of Business.

Last month, CSI invited approximately 40 people from across Kingston카지노 게임 컬렉션�s food scene to participate in a discussion about the possibility of establishing a 카지노 게임 컬렉션�food hub카지노 게임 컬렉션� in the local community.

카지노 게임 컬렉션�We are excited to work together with community stakeholders to support a sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable food system in the region,카지노 게임 컬렉션� says Tina Dacin, Director of the Centre for Social Impact. 카지노 게임 컬렉션�We look forward to sharing our research and facilitation expertise in order to develop, test and implement solutions to this complex challenge.카지노 게임 컬렉션�

Food hubs have grown in popularity in the United States with 225 currently active, according to Ian Arthur, executive chef at Chez Piggy restaurant in Kingston and a presenter at the recent meeting. The hubs, which are starting to catch on in Canada, typically involve a business or non-profit organization actively managing the aggregation, distribution and marketing of products primarily sourced from local and regional producers to meet the demand of individual consumers, wholesalers, retailers and institutions.

Through his discussions with local producers, Mr. Arthur has heard that local producers face significant challenges when it comes to satisfying demand.

카지노 게임 컬렉션�Often times, local farmers have limited storage and distribution is costly. Furthermore, they are busy in the field and don카지노 게임 컬렉션�t have adequate time or resources to devote to marketing,카지노 게임 컬렉션� he says. 카지노 게임 컬렉션�That카지노 게임 컬렉션�s where a food hub comes in. It could potentially facilitate planning and collaboration in order to create a more sustainable local food system.카지노 게임 컬렉션�

Mr. Arthur believes a food hub could work in Kingston, given the large consumer market and the wide variety of food items produced within a 100-kilometre radius of the city. However, the food hub must meet the needs of stakeholders in order to succeed, according to Mr. Arthur, and the recent meeting hosted by CSI was the first step toward figuring that out.

Students Jason Hawkins, Graham Stirling-Moffet and Nick Harrison attended the meeting and have a strong interest in contributing to the development of the food hub. After placing second at , they went on to found ., a company that delivers local food products to Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션�s students.

카지노 게임 컬렉션�As students, we recognize the need for convenient access to affordable, healthy food. We are creating awareness about local food among students and are hoping to see a shift in their grocery shopping habits,카지노 게임 컬렉션� Mr. Hawkins says. 카지노 게임 컬렉션�The changes that students make today will impact the way that they live tomorrow 카지노 게임 컬렉션� that is what카지노 게임 컬렉션�s really important.카지노 게임 컬렉션�

This is the second Community Solutions Lab hosted by CSI. The project last fall focused on helping Pathways to Education, Kingston.

The next step in the food hub is to bring together interdisciplinary teams to move the project forward. If you would like more information or want to get involved, contact Catherine McGill, Program Coordinator (Research and Curriculum), by email.

The Smith School of Business Centre for Social Impact was established in 2004 with a mission to educate students and foster outreach, research and advocacy on issues impacting our local and global communities. Every year, the centre presents and supports a wide range of programming for students, staff, faculty and members of the Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션�s community to learn more about the processes and practices that drive social impact 카지노 게임 컬렉션� including the business practice of responsible leadership and, more recently, social innovation, which refers to an innovative product, process or program that profoundly and positively changes a social system and is widely recognized a key driver of solutions to such complex issues. For more information please contact the centre at csi@muwangwooden.com.