Scaling local food: A literature review on the organization, benefits, and challenges of food hubs

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer channels have developed as alternatives to conventional agri-food systems characterized by long supply chains, market con­centration, and limited connections between pro­ducers and consumers. Yet despite their potential, these channels face significant limitations that con­strain their expansion and keep them largely con­fined to niche markets. In response, food hubs have emerged as intermediaries that aggregate and distribute products from multiple farms, enabling small- and medium-sized producers to reach insti­tutional buyers while preserving the goals and val­ues of local food systems. Synthesizing evidence from 34 peer-reviewed empirical studies, this review consolidates a dispersed body of research by clarifying the organizational and marketing structures, financing approaches, and documented impacts of food hubs. In doing so, the review shows that food hubs should be understood not simply as alternative distribution channels but as organizational intermediaries whose viability depends on the complex coordination of logistics, revenue streams, stakeholder relations, and eco­nomic and social objectives. It also highlights per­sistent challenges in farmer coordination, institu­tional market stability, and financial resilience that underscore the difficulties of sustaining food hubs and scaling local food systems.