Ledyard — Plans are underway to launch a virtual "food hub" in New London County that would allow growers to sell their produce and give buyers more access to locally grown food.

The proposal was announced Thursday at United Way headquarters, along with the results of a yearlong feasibility study.

The food hub would be designed to bring together professional food buyers, producers, distributors and industry suppliers in one community.

The study recommended against the development of a physical location until buyers become aware of what the hub would do and growers are ready to increase production.

It did, however, find enough interest to start an online marketplace that could broker sales.

"Local food is about community," said Josh Stoffel, project co-leader and co-director of the Office of Sustainability at Connecticut College. "There is nothing better than sitting at the table and knowing where your food came from."

He said one goal will be to provide institutions like schools and grocery stores with increased access to local foods, which in turn will reach individual consumers who are demanding locally grown foods.

"The ultimate goal of this food hub would be to build demand and supply in the region to volumes that warrant investment in centralized infrastructure," the study said.

To launch, the project would require identification of an already existing nonprofit that has a strong presence among growers and the food industry and would be willing to incubate the food hub as a separate nonprofit with its own resources and dedicated staff.

The study found that the food hub would need to raise about $110,000 in its first year to provide an online brokerage for distribution between producers and buyers and for branding, consumer education and future expansion.

Stoffel said if the virtual food hub takes off, a physical location could be created within two to five years.

Although the purpose is not primarily to donate food to programs that distribute to the needy, he said extra produce would be given to emergency food supply chains. 

The study found that currently there are more than 40 acres in fresh fruit and vegetable production and a high volume of poultry, eggs and hogs that could be directed to the food hub for brokering.

"We are encouraging our farmers to diversify their income streams, and this is what I think can do it for them," said Alicia McAvay, New London County farm-to-school coordinator.

The Food Hub Feasibility Study, which was made possibly through an initial $25,000 grant from the USDA, was spearheaded by United Way and The New London County Food Policy Council, which is run out of the Office of Sustainability at Connecticut College.

It was conducted by New Venture Advisors, a Chicago consulting firm that has worked on more than 40 food hub ventures throughout North America.

The study identified 16 interested growers with 180 acres of fruit and vegetable production that have the ability to expand by an additional 15 to 20 acres, and 30 greenhouses.

One grower is certified for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). GAP growers undergo voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.

Ten growers had on-farm food safety plans and six indicated they would pursue GAP certification if warranted.

The products the growers were most interested in selling into the hub were potatoes, winter squash, tomatoes, lettuce, kale/greens, chicken, pork and cheese.

The study identified 10 interested buyers: three independent grocery stores, three K-12 schools, a distributor, a college and a full-service restaurant. One buyer did not identify himself.

These buyers reported they spend $2.2 million a year on fresh produce, $850,000 on processed produce and $4.2 million on proteins.

The study said New London County was the top agricultural-producing county in Connecticut in 2012, with more than $72 million in sales, the majority from poultry and eggs.

It also found an estimated $149 million in unmet demand for local fruits, vegetable, proteins and grains in New London County.

Dairy was the second largest contributor to agricultural sales, while fruit and vegetable production in the region was found to be limited and driven by small-scale farmers, the study said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the food hub can attend the next meeting, to be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at United Way headquarters, 283 Stoddards Wharf Road. For more information contact, nlcfpc@uwsect.org.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @larraneta