New Entry Food Hub
Questions? Visit our FAQs page or email us at FoodHub@nesfp.org
Mission
The New Entry Food Hub aims to build long term economic self-reliance and food security among farmers in eastern Massachusetts and their communities, and to expand access of healthy and culturally appropriate foods in underserved areas through production of locally grown foods.
History
New Entry Food Hub, formerly known as World PEAS, began as a cooperative in 2005, with the goal to help beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers connect with local consumers seeking fresh produce.
Most participating farmers do not have a large enough volume, means of transportation, time, or English language skills to effectively access viable, living wage markets on their own. By forming a cooperative, small, beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers are able to combine their products to more efficiently and effectively connect with local consumers. In June 2013, World PEAS opened a physical warehouse space, transforming the program from a cooperative into a true Food Hub. In 2018, World PEAS Food Hub's name changed to New Entry Food Hub in an effort to draw a better connection between the Food Hub and New Entry's overall mission to train new farmers. New Entry Food Hub aggregates and distributes vegetables grown by beginning and multicultural farmers who use organic growing practices. Additional fruits and vegetables are sourced from farms within 100 miles of Boston that use certified organic practices, as well as farms that use integrated pest management. This produce serves CSA shareholders, local shelters, senior centers, childcare programs, and institutions.
Services
The New Entry Food Hub aims to provide the following services to our program farmers and eastern Massachusetts communities:
- Direct market access for farmers, through product aggregation and distribution
- Producer-oriented technical assistance and market-based training for farmers
- Access to sustainably grown, local fruits and vegetables through the New Entry CSA
- Ability for consumers to connect directly with their farmers, through newsletters, outreach, farm tours, etc.
World PEAS Food Hub 2017 Annual Report
World PEAS Food Hub 2016 Annual Report
World PEAS 2017 CSA Customer Survey Summary