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By Dylana Kneeshaw

FOOD PRODUCTION

Kamloops Food Policy Council awarded $750,000 grant for Food Hub project

Feb 23, 2021 | 4:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — Thanks to $750,000 from the province, the Kamloops Food Policy Council will be able to purchase food processing equipment for a new food hub in the local area.

The non-profit will use a network of shared spaces to provide processing equipment and mentorship opportunities for entrepreneurs in Kamloops. After equipment upgrades, the first Food Hub facility will be offered out of the existing Garden Gate program space.

Food Hub Coordinator Kent Fawcett points to his own struggle when starting his plant protein-based food company Local Pulse and not having a commercial kitchen space to work out of.

“It was really this huge barrier that just made it seem really insurmountable. That’s where the Food Hub comes in.”

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Fawcett says the hub will have multiple commercial-grade facilities for rent — including a professionally-certified space.

“We want to have it so that there’s different options. Say if you’re going to rent it out a lot in a month and weekly or daily, you’ll get a lower rate. Or if you’re going to rent it out as a one-off, maybe just at the end of the season you’ve got a ton of one extra crop and you want to try dehydrating it or maybe you want to make a fruit leather or make it into a popsicle.”

Once partner locations have been chosen, three Food Hub facilities will be offered in Kamloops — including one mobile unit. Fawcett says the mobile unit will offer commercial food processing equipment around the region with the Community Futures Central Interior First Nations’ Kweseltken Project.

People who use the higher-standard properly-certified spaces can prepare food to be shipped around the country, or use the other hub equipment to prepare food to be distributed on a regional level.

The Food Hub will also have subsidized mentorship programs with Kamloops Innovation Centre available. The business coaching could teach others how to get connected with a distributor, figure out what packaging to use and get them familiar with business practices.

“Whatever phase you’re at — if it’s just an idea, or you have a product and you’ve maybe been at the farmer’s market and you want to take it to the next level — reach out to me and the Food Hub team and we’ll help you get it going,” says Fawcett. “It’s also a great time for us to figure out what you need because we still haven’t bought everything yet. So that’s sort of a great way to figure out what people need and give it to them.”

Fawcett says the Open Door Group Gardengate facility will open in March, the mobile food facility is on the way and they’re still trying to find a location to partner with to offer the larger certified space.

For more information on the Food Hub and how to get involved, go to kamloopsfoodpolicycouncil.com.