Food + Wellness Hub
The Food + Wellness Hub at 19 Park Street is a proposed central location that provides an intervention point and facilities for farmers, local food businesses, food insecure residents and the wider community. The Hub’s mission is that “all eligible residents have access to food assistance that increase food security and improve health”. The Hub is part of the North Berkshire Food Innovation District (link opens in new window).
The Hub in Northern Berkshire County will have a shared community kitchen; farmers small scale processing and distribution; restaurant dining; food retail and storage; community events; and outdoor dining as well as facilities for food system education, workforce development, and to expand agriculture, local food, food access, agritourism and wellness through food. One of the aims is to make public health an economic driver and expand job and food business incubation.
The goal is to implement the recommendations made in the following six reports -
The Hub in Northern Berkshire County will have a shared community kitchen; farmers small scale processing and distribution; restaurant dining; food retail and storage; community events; and outdoor dining as well as facilities for food system education, workforce development, and to expand agriculture, local food, food access, agritourism and wellness through food. One of the aims is to make public health an economic driver and expand job and food business incubation.
The goal is to implement the recommendations made in the following six reports -
New England Food Vision,
Keep Berkshire Farming,
Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan,
Berkshire County Community Food Assessment
Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan
Berkshire County Community Health Needs Assessment
Keep Berkshire Farming,
Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan,
Berkshire County Community Food Assessment
Massachusetts Food is Medicine State Plan
Berkshire County Community Health Needs Assessment
The space is supported by a variety of Berkshire county organizations and commercial end users with the aim of developing, promoting and implementing plans providing access in six broad categories - Agricultural Support; Local Food Access; Wellness Through Food; Food Business; Community Connections; Wellness Services. The current members of the Advisory Board for the Hub are -
Regional Agricultural Developer - Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV)
Regional Healthcare Provider - Berkshire Health Systems (BHS)
Local Food Innovation District - Town of Adams
Building Owner - Braytonville Properties llc
Operator – Manager and Anchor Tenant
Regional Healthcare Provider - Berkshire Health Systems (BHS)
Local Food Innovation District - Town of Adams
Building Owner - Braytonville Properties llc
Operator – Manager and Anchor Tenant
Phase 1 of the Hub consists of 3,000 square feet of community gathering spaces that can be used for events, exhibits, meetings, workforce training, retail and community dinners. Added to that are supporting spaces of offices, reception rooms and toilets.
Phases 2 will add farmer's processing and retail facilities. Included in Phase 2 will be over 1,000 cubic feet of cold, freezer and dry goods storage; food apothecary; composting facilities; a retail space for value added products; as well as space for an interior and exterior farmer's market with food truck hook-ups.
Phase 3 is equipment for the completion of the community co-shared kitchen to provide full restaurant facilities and creation of outdoor summer patio next to the Ashuwillticook Rail trail.
Phase 3 is equipment for the completion of the community co-shared kitchen to provide full restaurant facilities and creation of outdoor summer patio next to the Ashuwillticook Rail trail.
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Adams is the ideal central location for the Hub with all farms within a 25 minute drive and half population of Berkshire County within 26 minutes or 50 minutes by public transport. A historical rehabilitation on the Mausert Block was completed in 2020 and the renovation is one of the safest, green, sustainable and innovative development projects.
For more information about the programs, courses and services at the Food + Wellness Hub, visit the Facebook Page or www.foodandwellnesshub.com. Information on the Food Innovation District can be found here
