The village of Nakusp, nestled in British Columbia’s West Kootenay region, is cooking up something revolutionary for its agricultural community. Local officials are exploring the creation of a food hub—a centralized facility that could transform how small-scale farmers and food producers bring their goods to market.
This potential game-changer comes as rural communities across Canada grapple with supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic. For Nakusp’s producers, the challenges are particularly acute: despite abundant local farming talent, the infrastructure needed to process, store, and distribute food efficiently has remained elusive.
“We’ve got incredible growers and producers here, but they’re facing significant barriers to scaling up,” explains Diana Bodnar, Economic Development Coordinator for the village. “Many are operating at capacity but can’t expand because they lack access to commercial kitchens, proper storage facilities, or efficient distribution channels.”
The proposed food hub would address these pain points by providing shared infrastructure—potentially including commercial processing space, cold storage, packaging facilities, and distribution coordination. This collaborative approach could significantly reduce overhead costs for individual businesses while creating new market opportunities.
According to a feasibility study commissioned by the village, the hub could serve approximately 40 food-based businesses and agricultural producers in the region. The facility would enable value-added production—turning raw agricultural goods into processed products with higher profit margins.
This initiative reflects a growing movement across British Columbia. The province has invested over $8.5 million through its B.C. Food Hub Network since 2019, establishing similar facilities in communities like Vancouver Island, Salmon Arm, and Quesnel. These hubs have demonstrated how shared resources can help small producers compete in markets traditionally dominated by larger players.
For Nakusp, the timing couldn’t be better. Consumer interest in locally produced food has surged since 2020, with Statistics Canada reporting a 9.4% increase in direct farm sales during the pandemic. This shift in consumer behavior presents an opportunity for rural producers—if they can overcome logistical hurdles.
“When you’re a small producer, you’re wearing all the hats—growing, processing, marketing, distribution,” says Jenna Volsky, who operates a small-scale vegetable farm near Nakusp. “Having access to a food hub would mean I could focus more on growing quality produce while sharing the burden of processing and getting my goods to customers.”
The proposed facility would serve more than just farmers. Artisanal food manufacturers, bakers, and value-added producers would benefit from access to commercial equipment and facilities that meet regulatory requirements—something prohibitively expensive for many small businesses to establish independently.
Beyond the infrastructure itself, the hub would foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration. “There’s tremendous value in creating a physical space where food entrepreneurs can connect,” notes Bodnar. “We’ve seen in other communities how this leads to innovative partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and collective problem-solving.”
Climate resilience also factors into the equation. The Columbia Basin Trust, which supports community development across the region, has identified food security as a strategic priority. As extreme weather events become more common, strengthening local food systems provides a buffer against supply chain disruptions.
The initiative aligns with broader economic trends in rural British Columbia. A 2022 report from the BC Food Security Task Force highlighted food processing as a significant economic opportunity, particularly for communities transitioning away from traditional resource industries. The report suggests that every job created in food manufacturing generates approximately 2.6 additional jobs through economic ripple effects.
However, challenges remain before the Nakusp food hub becomes reality. Securing capital funding presents the most significant hurdle, with estimated startup costs between $500,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the facility’s scope. Village officials are exploring grant opportunities through provincial programs and the federal Rural Economic Development fund, while also considering potential public-private partnership models.
Operational sustainability presents another consideration. Similar facilities across North America have demonstrated various approaches—from membership models and user fees to hybrid systems that combine public support with revenue-generating activities.
“The key is finding the right balance,” explains Bodnar. “We need a model that makes the facility accessible to small producers while generating enough revenue to cover operating costs.”
The village is currently gathering input from potential users to refine the concept before moving to the next phase of development. This engagement process aims to ensure the facility meets actual needs rather than presumed ones—a critical factor for long-term success.
If Nakusp’s food hub initiative moves forward, it could represent more than just a facility. It stands to become a cornerstone in a more resilient, locally-focused food system—one that connects rural producers with hungry markets while keeping economic benefits within the community.
As Canada’s food landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like this demonstrate how rural communities are finding innovative solutions to longstanding challenges—proving that sometimes the best way to face the future is by gathering around a shared table.
