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Strengthening Regional Food Systems with Cooperative Models and the Power of Partnerships
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Alvarado H
This workshop will bring together a panel of Midwestern Food Hubs that are centering values based procurement models in their development of regional food systems. Three food hubs will be featured, with varying business models but a shared mission to center farmer voices and support farm viability. In the first half of the session, the panel will address the age-old question of, "how did you get here," while in the second half we will encourage workshop participants to imagine the potential for partnerships in their own organizations and communities. We will facilitate a brief asset mapping and visioning session that will support participants as they identify next steps for the creation of locally situated programs that support thriving farmers and resilient communities. Alternatively, we can also use the second half of the session to facilitate round table break outs that support networking and shared learning with the panelists and moderator. Learning Objectives: -Gain insight into regional value chain development with specific examples -Learn about the opportunities in supporting cooperative models for production, aggregation, marketing, and distribution -Use an action planning framework to identify opportunities for collaboration in their respective regions NWI Food Council/Region Roots Food Hub: The NWI Food Council has long cultivated the power of relationships and partnerships to develop and implement impactful programs. One of our most visible programs, Region Roots Local Farm and Food Hub, has proven to be a powerful tool for bridging the needs of farm viability and food access. We'll share about our programs (Farmher to Mama, Senior eFMNP Boxes, Farm to School work) that use the hub as a mechanism for lowering barriers for historically underserved farmers, improving food access, and cultivating food justice-driven communities. As these programs have grown, we have also supported the emergent informal farmer cooperatives that are central to everything that we do. Though farmers have not chosen to formally incorporate as a cooperative, the principles of cooperative enterprises are embedded in the culture of small scale farmers in our region, and in our Food Hub. This strong community spirit and ethos of mutuality are supporting a stronger and more resilient, values-driven regional food system. Kansas City Food Hub: The Kansas City Food Hub was founded in 2016 by a group of small farmers who envisioned a local food system that allowed farmers to move their product into restaurants, schools, homes and more. They wanted to feed their communities and promote their belief in sustainable farming for themselves and the next generations. In addition to integrating local food into the Kansas City Metro Supply Chain, The Kansas City Food Hub focuses on stewardship of the land and its resources; mentorship; living wages; collaboration toward food sovereignty; and cooperative production planning, marketing and purchasing of resources. Our small and medium-sized farmers are improving the economic viability of sustainable local agriculture by coordinating year-round production, supporting emerging growers, aggregating product distribution, and bringing farmers and buyers together in a community that benefits all. Their partnerships and collaborative efforts extend beyond the farmer cooperative, as they work with many other food businesses, organizations to develop a more resilient regional food system. Food Hub #3, TBD
Speakers
avatar for Virginia Pleasant

Virginia Pleasant

Co-Executive Director, NWI Food Council
Dr. Virginia Pleasant grew up in Northwest Indiana and returned to her roots there 9 years ago to help build the regional food system she believes future generations deserve. From urban homesteading with her husband and 3 young children, to her role as Interim Director of Food Systems... Read More →
avatar for James Nakahara

James Nakahara

Program Manager, Ecosystem Building, Kitchen Table Advisors
James Nakahara is Program Manager for Ecosystem Building at Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA), a nonprofit farm business advising organization based in California. In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives that connect food system stakeholders to improve equitable economic opportunities... Read More →
AM

Anne Massie

Co-Executive Director, NWI Food Council
Anne Massie has a BA from Kalamazoo College in Psychology, Spanish and Philosophy and has spent the last 15 years building her career in local food advocacy in NW Indiana, gaining her farming knowledge through apprenticeships and workshops. From owning and operating her own diversified... Read More →
TS

Thomas Smith

Chief Business Officer, Kansas City Food Hub
Thomas Smith is the Chief Business Officer for the Kansas City Food Hub, a cooperative association of small and medium-sized farms that aggregate, market, and distribute collectively for the wholesale market in the greater KC metro. The KC Food Hub creates reliable and resilient markets... Read More →
Thursday September 24, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MDT
Alvarado H
  Food and Farm Marketing and Distribution, Program Design Development Management and Funding

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