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Abstract
The number of food hubs (‘local food’ aggregation and distribution businesses) is growing,
fueled in part by increasing public support. However, few data-driven economic impact
assessments have evaluated these ventures. Using an input-output-based methodology and, a
unique data set from a successful food hub operation, we measure the net and gross impacts from
a policy supporting its development. We estimate a food hub gross output multiplier of 1.75, and
employment multiplier of 2.14. However, utilizing customer surveys, we estimate that for every
$1 increase in final demand for food hub products, a $0.11 offset in purchases occurs in other
sectors.