Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative to Launch Statewide Transportation Initiative to Strengthen Local Food System
Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative.
Waupaca, WI — The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative (WFHC) today announced the upcoming launch of the Super Transportation Cooperative (STC), a statewide logistics initiative designed to improve food access, support local farmers, and build a more resilient and efficient food system across Wisconsin.
The STC will be formally introduced at a community event on April 30 from 5:00–9:00 PM at The Eighth10 in Waupaca, where attendees can learn more about the initiative’s vision, impact, and opportunities for collaboration. The evening will feature locally sourced cuisine prepared by J’s BBQ, highlighting Wisconsin-grown ingredients and the producers behind them.
Wisconsin’s local food system has demonstrated significant momentum in recent years. In just two years, coordinated efforts through programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) initiative helped deliver $4.2 million in fresh, Wisconsin-grown food, supported 72 small and mid-scale farmers, and reached 108 counties statewide. However, recent shifts in federal funding priorities have disrupted that progress, underscoring the need for long-term, infrastructure-based solutions.
The STC was designed to meet that need.
Built on a shared hub-and-spoke transportation network, the Super Transportation Cooperative will:
- Reduce transportation costs by optimizing routes and maximizing truck capacity
- Eliminate duplication across food hubs, nonprofits, and agencies
- Improve statewide coordination of food distribution
- Reduce fuel use, labor costs, and food waste
- Strengthen reliable access to local food for schools, pantries, and community programs
“At its core, STC is about infrastructure—not charity,” said WFHC leadership. “It creates the backbone needed to sustain a market-driven, resilient local food economy, even as funding landscapes shift.”
The initiative focuses on ensuring that more food dollars stay within Wisconsin by supporting local farmers and regional economies. Currently, more than 100 farmers are actively participating in the system, with that number expected to grow as the network expands.
By stabilizing transportation and aggregation, the STC helps ensure that procurement investments directly benefit small and mid-sized producers, rather than being lost to inefficiencies or external distribution channels. The result is stronger rural economies, more reliable food access, and a more connected statewide food system.
The initial soft launch demonstrated significant promise utilizing funds from Wisconsin Economic Development Council for a feasibility study.
The April 30 launch event will provide an opportunity for community members, partners, and stakeholders to engage with the vision behind STC and explore how they can be part of its continued development.
Last week to purchase tickets covering the cost of the farm-to-table meal being provided. Sponsorships available.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
