We support small and medium size farmers and processors to sell into regional wholesale markets.
Regional food businesses need:
Organizing the market
Activities Update
- Food Systems Action Plan for Dane CountyAround the world, communities are gathering to develop action plans for their food systems. Food policy councils, like ours in Dane County, develop action plans to guide community leaders and elected officials in decision-making for equitable, just food systems. AContinue reading “Food Systems Action Plan for Dane County”
- Terminal markets in the USA team of Cornell economists recently published a report detailing terminal market activity in the US. The report “Wholesale Produce Markets: An On-Site Infrastructure Assessment” is available at https://business.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Wholesale_Produce_Markets_Infrastructure_FINAL__VD_.pdf Researchers estimate that the forty-eight remaining terminal produce markets in theContinue reading “Terminal markets in the US”
- Canada invests in 2 more terminal marketsCanada is investing $1 billion to build 2 more food terminals by 2028, aiming to strengthen the food system & stabilize prices. Canada has one terminal now, the Ontario Food Terminal at Toronto. Twenty-one produce wholesalers and 400 farmers sellContinue reading “Canada invests in 2 more terminal markets”
Opportunities to grow
Our Regional Food System in Numbers
56
counties in the region
5
refrigerated warehouses in Dane County operating at full capacity
1,270+
pallet positions needed in 2019 and growing
300+
trips to Chicago could be eliminated in year one
“identified as one of 30 key infrastructure projects supporting our region”
Madison Region Economic Partnership
“a great benefit for farmers and small- and medium-scale processors”
Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative
“a crucial investment”
City of Madison Economic Development Division
Read the report
The City of Madison commissioned a business plan to create a shared wholesale warehouse in South Central Wisconsin.
- Will create 570 jobs in Dane County alone
- Will drive $123.4 million in economic output in Dane County
- Improves access to fresh foods
- Reduces transportation costs
- Stimulates entrepreneurs in the food sector
Wisconsin Food Systems, Inc. 