The Role of Values in Food Hub Sourcing and Distributing Practices

There has been rapid growth of interest in planning and operationalizing food hub enterprises across the country. Some of these entities aim to increase food access for underserved consumers. This study focused on values employed in distribution practices by food hub operators. Using a qualitative approach, we interviewed representatives from 11 Upper Midwest food hubs to investigate their strategies to increase food access and their intersection with underserved consumers. In these food hubs we find that serving underserved markets appears to be a secondary priority.