Grow Lane County started with an idea: Build a food system that supports both local farmers and people experiencing food insecurity. In the two years since the $4.5 million initiative launched, myriad food distribution programs and other anti-hunger efforts have blossomed.

When food access became more urgent, Lane County stepped up. Through collaboration between local organizations and farms, initiatives like Lane County Bounty helped bridge the gap—bringing fresh, local food to more households while supporting farmers at the same time. It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when a community invests in its local food system—not just in times of crisis, but as a long-term solution.

Listeners producer Kristen Mico speaks with Fiona Conneely and Shelley Sculer about how food hubbing models offer solutions to small farms, markets and food assistance programs.  At a time when programs that support access to fresh food and livelihoods of small farmers have been dramatically cut, and food assistance benefits like SNAP are also being cut, social service organizations are scrambling to figure out how to keep families fed. Fiona Conneely is with a Portland organization, Lift Up,  trying to do just that. She and Shelley Schular have a lot to talk about, as Shelley operates Lane County Bounty, a Eugene-based food hub that aggregates produce and goods from local farms, offering affordable, fresh food to a range of markets through a convenient online delivery service that provides choice and cultural goods.