Working Landscapes: Field Trip to A Fellow Food Hub

Last month, our Food Hub Program Coordinator, Julia, and Communications & Marketing Manager, Elizabeth, made a trip out to Warrenton where Working Landscapes is based.  

A fellow nonprofit, Working Landscapes serves the Warren County region by building more healthy and sustainable lives and livelihoods. Their mission takes many forms. There’s ByWayFoods, Working Landscapes’ food hub and prepared foods product brand. The operation, located in a repurposed historic cotton gin and flour mill, is used to provide community members with fresh, healthy food through a CSA-style fresh produce program. The facilities are also equipped to produce washed, fresh-cut, ready-to-use vegetables and prepared meals which provide local institutions with convenient, healthy food options through their wholesale program. Did you know several ByWay Foods items are included on Farmer Foodshare’s availability list? We are grateful to source value-added products from a neighboring NC food hub for our customers.  

Partners in more ways than one, Working Landscapes and Farmer Foodshare are also working together on Climate-Smart initiatives. Food hubs across North Carolina are connecting local farmers with the resources and assistance needed to implement more sustainable growing practices. These efforts will equip local farmers to build more sustainable businesses, distinguish climate-smart grown produce within the marketplace, and grow market opportunities for farmers. There’s a lot more work ahead, but we are excited about the impact we can make together with like-minded organizations to support our local farmers. Stay tuned for more!  

We enjoyed the opportunity to visit Working Landscapes, tour the ByWay Foods facilities, see production in action, and touch base about our ongoing collaborations.