Food Hub Network adding new facility in South Okanagan

The provincial government is spending $800,000 over the next two years to expand the B.C. Food Hub Network to Summerland.

Food hubs offer businesses a shared commercial space for food-processing.

LocalMotive Organic Delivery and Low Waste Market owner Thomas Tumbach is solidly behind the food hub concept and he believes the facility will help increase new value-added revenue streams for farmers in Summerland.

“At LocalMotive, we would be interested in the use of a value-added processing line for various products like preserved fruits, jams, syrups, salsas and pickled vegetables, which would primarily be made from ingredients from our farm and neighbouring farmers in the area," Tumbach said in a media release issued today, Feb. 17.

READ MORE: First-ever Kamloops food hub kitchen set to open

Upon completion of the South Okanagan location, there will be a total of 13 food hubs throughout B.C.

“Expanding the B.C. Food Hub Network to the South Okanagan will bring new opportunities to local farms and businesses that will help them increase their production, sales and market presence," Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food said in the release.

“Summerland is known for its amazing fruit, like cherries, strawberries and peaches, and the food hub will enable entrepreneurs in the area to use those locally grown ingredients to create products to share with British Columbians.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Roly Russell said food hubs help build more resilience into rural community economies while strengthening food security for all British Columbians.

The Summerland food hub is scheduled to open in the summer of 2024.

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