Rural Grocery and Local Food Hub Project Advances with Major Funding

MANDAN, N.D. — A regional initiative which seeks to transform the rural food system – helping grocery stores stay open and increasing access to local foods – is advancing in North Dakota. The pilot project will test a rural grocery and local food hub model in the north central region that, if successful, could be replicated elsewhere in North Dakota and rural America.

“From our experience working with cooperatives and small-town grocers on issues of rural food access, we know traditional economic and delivery models don’t always effectively serve rural places,” says Ellen Huber, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) rural development director. “Ultimately, we envision a rural food system that no longer relies on distant supply chains, but empowers local networks