Transition Town Jericho’s initiative passes as a non-binding vote on March 7th 2023 at Town Meeting Day!
Thank you to the residents of Jericho for supporting this initiative!
Transition Town Jericho’s initiative passes as a non-binding vote on March 7th 2023 at Town Meeting Day!
What is a Food Hub?
“A food hub is a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distributions, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products.”
The voters approved the following:
“We the citizens of Jericho propose the formation of Jericho as a vital Food Hub for the citizens of its town and environs. A Food Hub Task Force will be established, with the goal of increasing food self-sufficiency via the production, manufacture and distribution of local food.”
“A food hub is a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distributions, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products.”
The voters approved the following:
“We the citizens of Jericho propose the formation of Jericho as a vital Food Hub for the citizens of its town and environs. A Food Hub Task Force will be established, with the goal of increasing food self-sufficiency via the production, manufacture and distribution of local food.”
The issue:
Today our food system is a food ‘chain’ where food producers are completely disconnected from the food consumers. Disconnected from our food origins, we do not interact with the people who grow, process and manufacture the food. With disruptions in the food chain, we already see prices soaring and are relying increasingly on the behaviors of faraway suppliers. We are seeing both drought and flooding in the central and western USA where much of our food originates. Can we continue to depend on them to feed us?
Our dream:
What if Jericho citizens supported each other via a food sharing program benefiting them as well as their neighbor? What if additional land in the town were set aside to support growing crops, raising chickens, beef and pork, with the goal of making Jericho much more self-sufficient food wise? What if we set up a town center that supported the small business person and grocery stores, to open specialty stores or restaurants featuring foods produced in this town?
A food sovereign town would host many new jobs and opportunities from growing the food to running storage facilities and operating distribution and access programs. Not all people are good a farming or even want to grow a garden, but they may have other skills that they can use to support the system, or they can support the effort by spending their money locally. Other people are skilled at gardening/farming and/or raising livestock. Such people are major assets, and should be supported by Town policies that lead us toward food sovereignty.
As we learn to deal with climate change and its uncertainties, Jericho could respond proactively by assessing its own resources and how they can be leveraged to support its citizens. We have an opportunity to build food resiliency over time by practicing how to take care of ourselves, building community structures supportive of feeding and nurturing our residents regardless of what happens outside our region.
Today our food system is a food ‘chain’ where food producers are completely disconnected from the food consumers. Disconnected from our food origins, we do not interact with the people who grow, process and manufacture the food. With disruptions in the food chain, we already see prices soaring and are relying increasingly on the behaviors of faraway suppliers. We are seeing both drought and flooding in the central and western USA where much of our food originates. Can we continue to depend on them to feed us?
Our dream:
What if Jericho citizens supported each other via a food sharing program benefiting them as well as their neighbor? What if additional land in the town were set aside to support growing crops, raising chickens, beef and pork, with the goal of making Jericho much more self-sufficient food wise? What if we set up a town center that supported the small business person and grocery stores, to open specialty stores or restaurants featuring foods produced in this town?
A food sovereign town would host many new jobs and opportunities from growing the food to running storage facilities and operating distribution and access programs. Not all people are good a farming or even want to grow a garden, but they may have other skills that they can use to support the system, or they can support the effort by spending their money locally. Other people are skilled at gardening/farming and/or raising livestock. Such people are major assets, and should be supported by Town policies that lead us toward food sovereignty.
As we learn to deal with climate change and its uncertainties, Jericho could respond proactively by assessing its own resources and how they can be leveraged to support its citizens. We have an opportunity to build food resiliency over time by practicing how to take care of ourselves, building community structures supportive of feeding and nurturing our residents regardless of what happens outside our region.
Next Steps:
A Food Hub Task force has been created and includes 14 citizens of Jericho. They meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm.
This task force will work towards goals based on these 8 items:
1, The Jericho Food Hub should be community building through the efforts of growing, preparing, and
sharing food. We need to keep in mind the most vulnerable, our children and senior citizens who are
not able afford to eat a consistently healthy diet.
2, Education on the importance of fresh foods and how to prepare them for consumption, or to promote
makers to create value added products that will be popular with people.
3, There is a need for a public community kitchen for both dry and wet products. There are many
people in the Town that would like to start a small business creating value added products, but cannot
due to Health Department restrictions and associated costs. This will need to be designed keeping in
mind that affordable spaces are important to keep them within the reach of a startup business.
4, Common spaces made available to grow produce and livestock.
5, Celebrations within the Town to promote and support the Food Hub activities presented on a regular basis
6, Use technology to inspire and promote Food Hub activities
7, Support the farmers and markets in Jericho and surrounding communities by finding methods and
techniques that can bring a consistent and defined demand on their products
8, Leverage public and private programs and initiatives that are designed to assist with all the issues
addressed above. Let us not recreate the wheels that already exist.
A Food Hub Task force has been created and includes 14 citizens of Jericho. They meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm.
This task force will work towards goals based on these 8 items:
1, The Jericho Food Hub should be community building through the efforts of growing, preparing, and
sharing food. We need to keep in mind the most vulnerable, our children and senior citizens who are
not able afford to eat a consistently healthy diet.
2, Education on the importance of fresh foods and how to prepare them for consumption, or to promote
makers to create value added products that will be popular with people.
3, There is a need for a public community kitchen for both dry and wet products. There are many
people in the Town that would like to start a small business creating value added products, but cannot
due to Health Department restrictions and associated costs. This will need to be designed keeping in
mind that affordable spaces are important to keep them within the reach of a startup business.
4, Common spaces made available to grow produce and livestock.
5, Celebrations within the Town to promote and support the Food Hub activities presented on a regular basis
6, Use technology to inspire and promote Food Hub activities
7, Support the farmers and markets in Jericho and surrounding communities by finding methods and
techniques that can bring a consistent and defined demand on their products
8, Leverage public and private programs and initiatives that are designed to assist with all the issues
addressed above. Let us not recreate the wheels that already exist.
Underhill team joins forces with JFHTF
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The Underhill Local Agriculture and Local Foods Initiative has joined forces with JFHTF to be able to broaden not only the number of farmers but to double the size of the community we will serve. JFHTF is excited to have more enthusiastic people pursuing a Food Hub concept with us.
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How can I stay informed and/or get involved?
The Jericho Underhill Food Hub meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, but check this website’s calendar to make sure!
Go to this website's BLOG to see updates on specific activities around the Jericho Food Hub
Take our survey!
Information gathered from this survey is very helpful:https://forms.gle/uy3qVyA6fXDB3h227
April 2025 Jericho Underhill Food Hub Update
-JUFood Hub selects officers, continues process of registering as a non profit in Vermont
-Report on the recent Farm Forum: six farms represented; topics included climate change effects, small farms, and how to better support local farmers
-Cooking classes are being planned for every month this summer, details to come
-Community Meal: In the planning phase for this August, possibly August 10.
-Kids Garden Contest: Spread the word! deadline to apply is Sunday May 4
-New brochure: July 1 release date; will include the guide to local food, agriculture and related
-Gleaning: Dialog around supporting efforts in gleaning, through Salvation Farms Gleaning and the VT food bank
-Next meeting: Wednesday May 28: 6-7:30pm; Deborah Rawson Memorial Library
The Jericho Underhill Food Hub meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm at the Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, but check this website’s calendar to make sure!
Go to this website's BLOG to see updates on specific activities around the Jericho Food Hub
Take our survey!
Information gathered from this survey is very helpful:https://forms.gle/uy3qVyA6fXDB3h227
April 2025 Jericho Underhill Food Hub Update
-JUFood Hub selects officers, continues process of registering as a non profit in Vermont
-Report on the recent Farm Forum: six farms represented; topics included climate change effects, small farms, and how to better support local farmers
-Cooking classes are being planned for every month this summer, details to come
-Community Meal: In the planning phase for this August, possibly August 10.
-Kids Garden Contest: Spread the word! deadline to apply is Sunday May 4
-New brochure: July 1 release date; will include the guide to local food, agriculture and related
-Gleaning: Dialog around supporting efforts in gleaning, through Salvation Farms Gleaning and the VT food bank
-Next meeting: Wednesday May 28: 6-7:30pm; Deborah Rawson Memorial Library
