What is a food hub?

Food hubs source local, ethically produced products and then on-sell them to their local community.

It’s a great model for everyone involved:

• Farmers and producers are able to get a fair price for their products and don’t need to focus as much of their attention on marketing and distributing them.
• Consumers are able to find and buy fresh, delicious local produce and are more connected to where their food comes from.
• The Food Hub becomes a place to gather in the community, connecting farmers and producers to each other and the people who buy food.

Food hubs range in scale from volunteer-run buying groups using temporary spaces for receipt and packing of goods (like community or school halls, churches and garages) to permanent and well-established hubs providing a variety of business, educational and/or food access services.

Why shop at a food hub?

There are many reasons to shop at a food hub including:

• The food is fresher and tastes better.
• The food doesn’t have to travel as far to get to you, and usually has far less packaging than you’d find at a supermarket, making it better for the planet.
• Food hubs support the local economy, farmers end up with more money in their pocket than from supermarket sales. They also create jobs for people in the local community.
• It’s a great way of finding out about the local producers in your area and becoming part of a vibrant food community.

Why sell through a food hub?

Food hubs help farmers and producers to take their business to the next level. Here’s how:

• When you sell through a food hub, you know in advance what you have sold, and only need to deliver that amount. This reduces wastage and the need to discount.
• The margins food hubs charge are much lower than supermarkets, meaning that you take home a greater share of the profit than selling through a supermarket.
• Food hubs help to connect you to other local producers and provide an opportunity to share knowledge.
• Food hubs handle a large portion of the marketing and logistics work associated with managing a food enterprise. They often actively promote new suppliers and will pack and (sometimes) deliver your products for you.

Where to find local food hubs?

We have created a list of many of the Food Hubs that we know about here.

Please fill out this form to suggest more food hubs for this list. 

Queensland

Food Connect

Where: Brisbane

Food Connect’s vision is to create a world where everyone has access to healthy, fresh, ecologically-grown food that is fair to growers, eaters, and the planet. We want to transform the food system, and we believe the next step towards this vision is to create a working local food hub for the regional food economy, that is owned by the community.

Find out more about them on their website. 

New South Wales

New Life Farm

Where: Sapphire Beach

At New life Farm we’re all about growing and supplying healthy, fresh, local organically grown food to the Coffs Coast.

Just seven minutes north of Coffs Harbour at beautiful Sapphire Beach we’re a small, diverse farm between beach and bush. We’re bringing ‘new life’ to an old farm using natural farming, permaculture design and holistic management techniques to regenerate the landscape with a mission to leave the land better than we found it for future generations to come.

View their website here, or find them on the Open Food Network here. 

North Arm Farms

Where: Nambucca Valley

Our farms share a common vision, to produce clean, nutrient dense food for our local community, in a way that enriches our soils and surrounds.

Located in the Nambucca Valley, our farms are The Mandarin Bend, Autarky Farm Dolly’s Run & Maddrake Mushrooms.

View their website here, or find them on the Open Food Network here. 

REKO Central Coast

Where: Central Coast

Imagine being able to shop for a variety of fresh, local items produced with integrity from the comfort of your own home all while supporting regenerative small-scale farmers in your community. Then you head on down at the designated time and location for the “pop up” farmers market to collect your goods directly from the producers, with no costly middlemen involved. Don’t forget to have a quick chat with the farmers and share recipes with other like-minded consumers.

REKO is derived from “Rejäl Konsumtion” which translates to ‘Fair Consumption’ and is a fair trade model that originated in Finland but quickly exploded across Scandinavia and is now spreading around the globe. 

View them on the Open Food Network here, and check out their Facebook group and Instagram pages here. 

Terrewah Farm

Where: Kangaroo Valley

Terrewah Farm is a small-scale, mixed enterprise in the beautiful Kangaroo Valley. We grow organic vegetables and herbs, raise pastured poultry for eggs and meat, run dorper lambs and have a small but beautiful herd of dexter cows who produce both milk and beef. We sell our produce locally, directly to our customers both online and at the Berry Farmer’s markets.

We’re not certified organic but practice regenerative growing methods. We don’t use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides but focus instead on nourishing our soil, allowing it to grow naturally amazing produce.

Find out more about them on their website, or view their listing on the Open Food Network. 

Woolongong Online Farmers Market

Where: Woolongong

Wollongong Online Farmers Market (WOFM) only stocks food that is grown or produced in a socially and environmentally responsible manner within the boundaries of the Illawarra Region or adjoining LGAs, including Campbelltown, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, Wingecarribee, and Wollondilly. 

A more localised food system not only means shorter supply chains and lower CO2 emissions, it means that a larger proportion of revenue is retained in our local economy.​

View their listing on the Open Food Network here. 

Australian Capital Territory

Southern Harvest

Where: Wamboin (NSW), Barton (ACT), Gungahlin (ACT), Chifley (ACT), Gordon (ACT), Yarralumla (ACT)

Our produce box scheme follows the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, and aims to, as directly as possible, connect Farmers and Eaters. Subscribers are asked to commit to the thirteen-week season and purchase in advance, a share of the Farmers’ produce. They then receive fruit, vegetables, herbs, and nuts as they are harvested, often the day they are harvested, each week for the season.

In the leaner months, preserved fruit and vegetables may also be provided to supplement the fresh supplies. Consumers commit to supporting farmers through the season and share the ups and downs of food production.

Find out more about Southern Harvest on their website or check out their listing on the Open Food Network here.

Victoria

Acres and Acres Community Farm

Where: Corryong

Acres and Acres COOP’s mission is to create a network of Market Gardens across the Upper Murray and North East Victoria, to build resilience through the production of fresh produce across the local area.

Find out more about them on their website, or visit their store on the Open Food Network. 

Alphington Community Food Hub

Where: Alphington
The Alphington Community Food Hub is an ecosystem of organisations and businesses committed to building a
resilient local food system. They run a farmers market every Sunday from 9 AM – 1 PM and have a class 2 manufacturing kitchen available to food
enterprises for production and other activities, as well cool room facilities. 

Find out more about them on their website.

Baw Baw Food Hub

Where: Warragul

Baw Baw Food Hub is a not-for-profit group based in Warragul that sources organic, natural and local produce for people in the Baw Baw area of West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.

Find out more about them on their website or visit their store on the Open Food Network. 

Bright Food Coop

Where: Bright

Bright Food Coop aims to create a local sustainable food hub for our community by providing access to bulk, local and organic dry and fresh food products through our shop in the Bright and online shop via the Open Food Network.

We strive to provide access to affordable healthy food, support local producers and organic farming practices and reduce waste.

Follow Bright Food Coop on Facebook or Instagram or view their store on the Open Food Network

CERES Fair Food

Where: Melbourne

CERES Fair Food delivers organic groceries to households across Melbourne, sourced from over 150 farmers and ethical grocery makers.

Together we support regenerative farming practices, provide employment and career pathways for new migrants, and return 100% of profits to CERES environmental education programs.

View their store here.

Fawkner Wholefoods Collective

Where: Fawkner, Melbourne

We are a not-for-profit, community-based collective in Fawkner. We source most of our produce directly from growers and producers whose values align closely with ours.  We are all about providing produce that is grown or produced as locally as possible, organic or at the least pesticide-free and with minimal packaging. We don’t care for making big profits, but we do care about wholesome, honest food that doesn’t cost the earth.

Orders can be collected from the Fawkner Bowls Club every 3rd Sunday of the month. Weekly veg is also now available for pick-up from a Fawkner address every Wed between 4-7pm. You will need to bring your own containers/bags to collect the produce.

View them on Facebook here, or view their store on the Open Food Network.

Harcourt Organic Farming Co-Op

Where: Harcourt

HOFC is a collaboration of diverse organic farmers who lease land on a single farm in Harcourt. We are passionate about learning our craft, feeding our community, and making direct and meaningful connections with our customers, for example through Community Supported Agriculture.

The aim of HOFC is to make the farm as productive and profitable as possible, within a collaborative framework and using regenerative and organic principles.

View their website here, find them at the Castlemaine Farmers Market every Wednesday or view their store on the Open Food Network.

Macedon Food Hub

We are a group of Macedon ranges locals making organic bulk wholefoods easier to access and more affordable for our Hub members.

View the store on the Open Food Network.

McIvor Farm Foods

Where: Tooborac

Belinda and Jason Hagan are third generation farmers working the land in Tooborac Victoria, about 1 hour north of Melbourne.

They are ‘soil farmers who manage to run pigs across our property’ and focus on regenerating the land to create a healthier earth, happier animals and better choices for people.

They run a food hub on the Open Food Network platform. 

Merri Food Hub

Where: Fawkner, Melbourne

Merri Food Hub stands for food security and working towards a more sustainable food system. We work towards a more “efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food system for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind”.

Connect with them on Facebook here, or view their listing on the Open Food Network.

Murmungee Basin Produce

Where: Beechworth, Myrtleford, Bright

We grow great tasting veggies using organic and regenerative methods and have a particular love for working towards maximum soil health and plant nutrition.

We also work with like minded local producers to supply fruit, nuts & honey etc. to help keep things interesting.

We’re currently offering a weekly produce box to people in the Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright areas with pick up locations in each town. Home delivery is available to these areas.

View their website here, or visit their store on the Open Food Network. 

Food Next Door Co-Op

Where: Mildura

Food Next Door is an initiative with the goal of relieving the suffering or distress suffered by newly arrived migrants and refugee groups, particularly those without access to land and living in rural and regional areas.

We’re working hard to solve this issue by supporting these groups to re-engage in farming and grow food, including their traditional foods.

Find out more about the Food Next Door Co-Op on their website. You can buy food boxes from their Out Of The Box program on the Open Food Network.

Prom Coast Food Collective

Where: Gippsland

Eat better and see the world differently.

The Prom Coast Food Collective is taking the power back from larger corporations, and helping consumers to support local farmers.

They sell a range of products including milk, eggs, bacon, apples, olive oil, cheese and chicken.

Find out more about them on their website.

Somerset Farm

Where: Seymour

We have a 4 acre vegetable farm tucked in the centre of the Somerset Winery. We grow according to organic principles and focus on soil health and biodiversity. We grow primarily heirloom varieties, our vegetables are delicious, full of nutrients and grown and harvested with love and care. We embrace the unique and diverse beauty of our vegetables.

Our availability changes week to week as does the farm. We supply primarily to restaurants and farmers markets and are very excited to make our produce available to the local Seymour and surrounding communities through the Open Food Network. We do ask that you try to keep to a $30 minimum order in order to help us make local orders efficient and viable. We look forward to feeding you.

View their website here, or buy from them on the Open Food Network. 

Strathbogie Local

Where: Euroa, Strathbogi, Ruffy and Violet Town

‘Strathbogie Local’ is all about linking local food growers to local customers. We want to provide a distribution hub – so food growers can simply drop orders here at Brady & Kibble and customers can call to collect. We are auspiced by Strathbogie Inc – a group of locals bringing positive change to our region – this is one of those positive changes . . .

View their listing on the Open Food Network, or find out more about them on Facebook. 

The Community Grocer

Where: Fitzroy, Pakenham, Carlton, Heidelberg West

The Community Grocer is a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs fresh produce markets and programs to increase social, economic and physical access to fresh food.

Our markets offer choice and nutrition in a dignified setting, creating inclusive and vibrant gathering spaces.

Find out more on their website, or order from them at the Open Food Network.

Fitzroy Store
Pakenham Store
Carlton Store
Heidelberg West

Tasmania

Tasmanian Produce Collective

Where: Four hubs covering most of TTasmania

The Tasmanian Produce Collective is essentially an online produce store owned and operated by some of the finest Tasmanian producers.

There are fortnightly collection points all over Tasmania, from Sisters Beach to Sorell, George Town to Geeveston, making shopping for local, Tasmanian produce convenient and easy.

View their website here, or visit their listing on the Open Food Network. 

Farm On Point

Where: Panania

The Farm on Point is a local food hub growing veggies and people. We produce local heirloom and organic seedlings using our own seed-raising mix, garlic, vegies, eggs, honey and meals using our organically grown produce. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of our produce will be reinvested back into our school and programs for the benefit of a stronger localised, healthy community.

Find their listing on the Open Food Network here. 

South Australia

Village Greens of Wilunga Creek

Where:

The Village Greens of Wilunga Creek are a team of young, passionate farmers who care deeply about the health of our soil, our community and our planet. 

They produce delicious, organically-grown vegetables on their farm, and source other local produce from nearby farmer friends (e.g. eggs and fruit). 

Order from their online store here.

Western Australia

Guildford Food Hub

Where: Guildford, Perth

Northern Territory

We aren’t aware of any Food Hubs in the Northern Territory yet. Please let us know if you are aware of one.

Thinking about starting a Food Hub? 

The Open Food Network has been helping Food Hubs for over 10 years.

We’ve put together key information for anyone who is thinking about either starting a new food hub, or expanding the operations of an existing one. Find it at the link below.