New Food Hub announced in Freshwater Creek

A NEW food hub catering to growers and producers across the Surf Coast is on its way to Freshwater Creek.

As part of a partnership with VicHealth, Common Ground Project on Anglesea Road has been named one of seven Future Healthy Food Hubs across regional Victoria.

Community engagement manager and CEO of Common Ground Project Felicity Jacob said the introduction of the Food Hub fell within the organisation’s five-year to 10-year vision.

“The two core tenets that we are focusing heavily on are social enterprise and connecting to the community, so the food hub is in our vision to have a more permanent food market here for the community to come to,” Ms Jacob said.

The new Food Hub will be an extension of the existing four-acre site estimated to be completed in March, built as a permanent market stall and community centre for Surf Coast residents.

The long-term goal of the Food Hub is to establish partnerships with other vendors and food producers around the region, and will provide increased opportunities for communities to celebrate, showcase and learn about diverse food cultures.

“The food hub will also assist us in achieving our overall mission which remains addressing food inequality and providing food relief, it won’t just be a for-purpose market with yummy food that looks good,” Ms Jacob added.

“It will have that dual message of, one, being epic for the community, and two, having a deeper function that will serve different community groups.

“Our overall mission is to work towards a more resilient and regenerative farming and local food system in the Surf Coast and Greater Geelong regions.”

Food Hub coordinator Amy Tacey said that there has already been an abundance of interest surrounding the new hub.

“Communication is going both ways at the moment, we’re reaching out to local growers, and they are reaching out to us as well wanting to be a partner of the new Food Hub,” Ms Tacey said.

“We currently have a community survey out on our website for local sellers and producers from around the region to indicate interest and provide feedback on what they envision the new hub will look like.

“I’ve had numerous responses and we very much want to co-design the creation of our new hub. It really is a case of ‘by the community, for the community’.”

Prior to the completion of the food hub’s construction, Common Ground Project will be holding a pop-up market on Saturday, January 28 from 8.00am-1.00pm with farm tours taking place at 10.00am and 12.00pm as a means of sharing the concept, community engagement and co-design of the hub.

To access the community survey and find out more about the new food hub, head to www.commongroundproject.com.au/food-hub