Transition Town Jericho’s initiative passes as a non-binding vote on March 7th 2023 at Town Meeting Day!
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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.
Underhill team joins forces with JFHTF |
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?
Monthly updates are provided here! 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! Check out the website: www.jufoodhub.org Take our survey! Information gathered from this survey is very helpful:https://forms.gle/uy3qVyA6fXDB3h227 Media: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-08-19/local-food-booster-club-jericho- Updates for January/February 2026 JUFH Minutes Wed, Jan 28th , 6:00 Sandy Wilmot, Emily Tompkins, Chantal O’Connor, John Koier, John Connell, Jason Crooks, Nicole Stone, David Stone, Amy Golodetz, Monica John, Meg Davidson, Marj Wainwright, Ann Linde, Nathan Goldman, Lisa Hoare. Fund Raising: Fund raising committee met on Jan 26th and came up with two ideas to try and pull off this year. We’re still working out the details.
Food Shelf: Jason talked about the Underhill, Jericho, Essex Food Shelf. He showed us a video of what happens to prepare for each monthly distribution and explained exactly how it works. Very informative. They would like to get more of their products from local growers and are wondering if there’s a way to work with the food hub to have access to who has what available when and for how much. Possibly a member of the food hub would take on the role of coordinating this. This would create more demand for our local farms. The idea of having food hub volunteers help on distribution days was also discussed. NOFA: Emily told us about two food access programs:
And she updated us on the Farm Security Fund that has passed and is now looking for funding. Grant for Food Hubs Marj brought up a state gran that’s available for food hubs to give money to schools to help pay for their locally purchased foods. Marj, Emily, Nathan, and Dave are going to work on this. Treasurer’s report: Ended year with $2050 Goal for this year is $3000 Discussed having a table at town meeting. Everyone agreed we should. Workshop ideas: Back yard goats Perennials Edible perennials Raised bed gardening Composting If anyone has other ideas, please share. Other business: Lisa wondering about two things: Programs for kids that include internships on farms to encourage interest in farming. Concern that farmers are aging out and no one to replace them. MMU has a sustainability program that includes farm internships. Could VTC be a resource for this? Farm volunteering/sitting. Her idea is that people (maybe food hub members) could lend a hand at a farm to help out, with the added purpose of learning enough to be able to farm sit if the farmer needs to leave. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 Next meeting on Feb 25th. |
