Appalachian Harvest outlines food‑hub operations and asks county to help recruit producers

Adam Pendleton, general manager of Appalachian Harvest, briefed the board about the food‑hub’s services based in Duffield and its efforts to expand market opportunities for local producers.

Pendleton summarized the hub’s offerings — produce aggregation, value‑added partnerships (with a Lee County cannery), a newly added beef handling line, and a food‑box distribution program reported at roughly 1,500–1,600 weekly distributions. He described workforce connections that led to training outcomes (some participants earned CDLs or warehouse jobs) and noted ongoing efforts to develop season‑extension crops and identify producers for high‑demand items such as broccoli and finished beef.

Appalachian Harvest said it has purchased additional acreage in the Abingdon area to host training and demonstration plots and is exploring a regional slaughter capacity as demand grows. Pendleton requested the county help widely publicize the hub’s services and upcoming farmer outreach meetings; staff and supervisors offered to coordinate a follow‑up producer meeting with the extension agent and to schedule a possible board tour of the facility.

Board members thanked the presenters and asked staff to assist with outreach to local farmers and community partners.