Centers & Operations
Satellite Operations
The proposed product lines will include locally grown row crops with a focus on spring, summer, and fall crops for fresh and fresh-prepared (prepared for institutional use) and fall crops for IQF (individually quick frozen) processing (both institutional and retail packs). The product lines could also include berries, tree nuts, and tree fruit.
Facilities would be established to receive the raw product for washing, sorting, grading, and packing of fresh product. The project will include the equipment and cold storage necessary to process and hold fruit and vegetables for fresh institutional sales (celery sticks, carrot coins, etc.), as well as for processing/preparing fall vegetables for IQF processing. All products would be clearly labeled and identifiable as locally grown and stored in a manner and location to be ready for local/regional distribution.
Distributions Centers
The satellites will serve as a collection point for shipments and will be a central pick-up point for regional distributors and retailers. This has been a major barrier for the efficient movement of local products to markets. Trucks will transport product between the satellite facilities and the central processing facility for additional processing, storage, and distribution.
Education Centers
Local, regional and state governments are concerned with improving sustainable food networks. The satellite facilities not only provide a missing component of the current network; they will provide a forum and means to educate the community on maintaining and enhancing the local network and manage threats to the network in future years. The facilities will include safe and appropriate space for instructional use to provide an educational nexus for schools and community service providers with the goals of ending hunger in vulnerable dependent populations, such as children, homeless and the elderly.
