ValleyHUB Partners with University of Vermont for Food Hub Management Certificate

Staff from Kalamazoo Valley’s ValleyHUB food hub are partnering with instructors from the University of Vermont (UVM)to offer the Food Hub Management Professional Certificate program. Launched by (UVM) five years ago, the program is an innovative blend of hands-on, communitybased, online and in-person learning designed to prepare students for managing food hubs. Designed for emergent and established food hub managers, the program provides the tools and training needed to advance in food systems careers.

The 2019 program in Michigan is being offered through a partnership between Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the University of Vermont. The residential portion of the program will take place in Kalamazoo with tours of other food hubs in lower Michigan and hands-on training in the ValleyHUB food hub at the Kalamazoo Valley Food Innovation Center on the Bronson Healthy Living Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.

Residential session dates for 2019 are set for March 4 - 8 and Nov. 4 - 8.

The program aims to strengthen and accelerate management skills of operational leaders of food hubs and other community-based food system organizations. The multi-disciplined subject matter is taught by food hub managers and subject matter experts in each discipline. The course is taught online with two, weeklong residential sessions held in Michigan.

The syllabus includes: Business Formation, Food Hub Fundamentals, Business Planning, Marketing, Sales, Finance, HR and Staffing, Risk Management, Food Safety, Product Development and Knowledge, Supply Chain Management, Storage and Warehouse Management, Distribution, Processing, Technology and Value Chain Facilitation. Students will develop essential knowledge and skills in areas that include: Legal Structure and Sources of Capital; Business Planning and Assessment; Sales Forecasting, Analysis and Marketing; Finance and Risk Management; Food Safety – On Farm, Facility, and FSMA; Supply and Value Chain Integration; New Product Development and Processing; Management of Facilities, Distribution, and Technology; and Human Resources and Stakeholder Management.

The course is ideal for individuals exploring the feasibility of starting or expanding a food hub, emerging leaders in organizations advancing the feasibility of regional food systems, food hub practitioners focused on ‘the next 10 years’ and professionals seeking to develop their career in the local and regional food market.

Space is limited to 25 participants. The fee for the four-month fundamentals program is $3,795 and includes the March residential session and the four-month online course. The fee for the eight-month comprehensive program is $5,945 and includes both residential sessions, the four-month online course, and an action project. Scholarships are available and can be requested through the program application. Breakfast, lunch and some dinners are included in the tuition fee. Transportation to Kalamazoo and lodging are the responsibility of the participant.

Applications will be reviewed by the program instructors on a rolling basis until Feb. 1 or until the program is filled. Students who are accepted into the program will receive a registration link to confirm their seat and pay a deposit. To apply, go to the University of Vermont website at https://learn.uvm.edu/program/food-hub-management/.