Connecting Consumers With Local Food Hubs: Ritchie Gets Update On "Food Hub" Project

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie recently received an update from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County on progress being made to establish a “food hub” in the region that will expand markets for hardworking farmers and help consumers eat more healthy, local foods. 

Made possible through funding secured by Senator Ritchie in the state budget, the food hub will give farmers and agribusiness owners an opportunity to bring products to a central location where they can then be transported to major cities throughout our state.

At the recent meeting, Senator Ritchie was introduced to two individuals now working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County to help establish the food hub— Remy Cline and David Puccia.  Mr. Cline’s career includes working to establish a food hub in Wyoming in part through AmeriCorps VISTA, as well as over a decade spent in Asia working at his own start-up companies in the tech sector. Mr. Puccia’s experience includes over 30 years spent as owner of a fresh produce distributor with sales of over $6 million.  His most recent work experience includes serving as president and division manager for a large food service company with sales exceeding $4 billion