ValleyHUB Tour Impresses Department of Agriculture Representatives

Representatives from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), formerly the Department of Agriculture, visited Kalamazoo Valley's Food Innovation Center and Culinary and Allied Health Building to learn about the creative ways the college is working to make healthy foods accessible.

Director for Sustainable Food Systems Rachel Bair led the tour at the Food Innovation Center and explained that the food hub concept brings into focus the intersection between food, education and mental health.

"The idea has morphed as we have had different partners come on board or we look at community needs," explained Kalamazoo Valley President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.

MDARD Director Gary McDowell said field trips to local communities were more frequent prior to the pandemic. "We're here learning and asking questions," he said. "Great ideas are coming from people across the state who have the same goals and we're really impressed. We want to be a part of it, too."

He said he's hopeful that food insecurity can be tackled by organizations that band together across the state. "Food brings people together," McDowell said. "If we can solve the food crisis, it will go a long way toward solving other social ills."

ValleyHUB, the largest network of buying and selling opportunities for local food in Southwest Michigan, connects local growers with buyers like restaurants and institutional kitchens in schools and hospitals. "We have to look more at local so we're not depending on the rest of the world for our food supply," McDowell said. "I just appreciate what's going on in Kalamazoo. It's a great example of what can be done when we work together."

See photos from the tour at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalamazoovalley/albums/72177720300028955.