Local Food Hub

Local Food Hub Trish Preston had the food producer contacts. Chelsie Casagrande-Smith had the idea and business background. Together, they started a year-round grocery store carrying locally produced food. “It started on a high note and has only continued to grow,” says Preston. “We had 20 vendors when we opened this past August, and today we have around 70. We have a lot of customers from the surrounding area, but also quite a few regulars who travel 45 min. to an hour to shop with us.” In the first quarter of 2025, the Winchester Farm Exchange welcomed 13,000 customers through the door and sold 50,000 products. For the vendors, who include farmers, bakers and makers, it’s been life-changing. Where they once relied on weekly farmers markets, they now have an outlet for their products that’s open seven days a week. “They have a sales volume like they’ve never had before,” says Preston. “I had one vendor tell me he was able to buy a large piece of equipment he couldn’t afford before. Another said they were able to purchase health insurance for their family for the first time.” Preston is enthusiastic about the collaborations taking place between vendors. “Our apple farmer worked with our jam producer, who worked with a bread baker to put their products in one of their breads,” she says. “We had a meat producer, a bread baker and a produce farmer create a bundle to sell together.” Vendors pay a flat fee for their space in the store, as well as a two percent fee on sales. This pays for staffing and the central checkout. Preston gives them credit for their time commitment as well. “Our farmers each come in for a 4-hr. shift to talk to customers,” says Preston. “Part of what we want to do is to educate our consumers. They love to talk to the people producing their food.” The Exchange has a full-time manager and staff to handle day-to-day operations. Preston and Casagrande-Smith still handle the back-office efforts, including marketing. For them, it’s a labor of love with no pay. They do it on the back of their own full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Their goals include expanding their product list and vendors. “We’re always on the lookout for farm business start-ups and greater diversity in vendors, as well as products,” says Preston. “We’ve looked for ways to diversify the type of families who provide the food. The neighborhood is diverse, and we want our vendors to be reflective of that.” Another goal is to build on the store’s existing efforts. “When Chelsie first suggested the store, she was looking for a better way to feed her family farm fresh foods,” says Preston. “It had always been a dream of mine to have more impact and educate the community, and provide food to the community.” That goal is being taken to another level. The two partners are starting Fishes and Loaves Food Alliance. Plans include a food garden for both classroom and home education, as well as exploring ways to support families who are food insecure. Preston recognizes that the Exchange’s price points are usually higher than those of the local big-box supermarkets. “If you can support local producers, that’s great,” she says. “The food is fresher and holds more nutrients because it takes fewer days to get to market. However, whatever budget you have, we want people to eat good food. “We want to do it in a way that won’t strain financial and time resources,” adds Preston. “We’re hoping to provide people with a crockpot or air fryer and recipes to make it as easy as possible for them to eat better.” Meanwhile, they’ll continue working with their staff and vendors to maintain the same high note they started with. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Winchester Farm Exchange, 8 S. High St., Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110 (ph 614-499-2755; winchesterfarmexchange@gmail.com; www.winchesterfarmexchange.com).

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