WEBINAR RECORDING May 21 2021
Food hubs are most often physical places, technology and/or other infrastructure.
However, the only essential part of a food hub is strong, intentional relationships among members of a regional food system.
The business world often refers to network building as “networking.” Regional food systems thrive when stakeholders begin food “hubbing.”
Micah Elconin discusses the practice of food hubbing using the example of his current project Eugene's Table, a food and beverage partnership that seeks to solidify Greater Eugene's place as a manufacturing hub for world class products.
Elconin leverages 15 years of experience as an economic development strategist, sales manager, food entrepreneur, non-profit manager, analyst, teacher, professional chef and amateur gardener to provide value for regional food businesses.
Elconin founded The Educated Vegetable in 2005, a personal chef business based out of Santa Barbara, CA. His client list included David Crosby, Ellen DeGeneres, Will Smith, and Noah Wyle.
In 2012, Elconin earned an MBA from UO’s Lundquist College of Business. Upon graduation, he was hired by NEDCO to design, launch, and manage the Sprout! program in Springfield.
Between 2015 and 2016 he led sales for Harvest Santa Barbara, a regional Organic produce distributor, where he doubled the company's seven figure annual sales revenue. Micah was named a 20 under 40 Business Leader in 2017 by his peers in the Eugene Springfield area.
He holds an MBA from the University of Oregon, BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and dual certificates from Bauman College. He’s also an avid rock climber and route developer with many first ascents in the Willamette Valley.