Food Hub Odorheiu Secuiesc

Video

The Food Hub project is an American initiative aimed at the development of short supply chains.

The main objectives of the project are the following: the creation and development of a local product shop (products come to the shop from a maximum 75 km radius); the development of short supply chains in Odorheiu Secuiesc; the promotion of local products as healthy products and the preservation of the region’s specific culture and traditions; the training of local producers and providing consultancy in order to support their market presence and to meet market demands (product marketing, business accounting, commercial logistics organization, food safety, organic farming, etc.); the education of children and young people in the field of local products, healthy nutrition, and the preservation of traditions through visits to farms and traditional food processors, through internships at the local product hub, discussions, lectures, open days, and workshops; to take part in the creation and maintenance of the Food Hub network in Romania.

The project is funded by the Romanian-American Foundation (http://www.rafonline.org/).

The Food Hub – Shop

The Shop, established within the framework of the Food Hub project, is an alternative institution that aims to represent a new way of thinking in the business world. It is innovative because it was founded by a non-profit foundation—Civitas. It’s innovative because it treats producers and consumers as partners and seeks to support their cooperation. It’s innovative because it carefully selects its suppliers, offers seasonal products to customers, and most importantly, it promotes ethical business practices.

“If you want to run an ethical business, you must become an organization that is ecologically mindful, considers future generations, and serves members of society. Ethical business is not merely a luxury for developed societies—it is a condition for corporate survival amidst the ecological, social, and financial crises of the 21st century.”
— Zsolnai, 2005

Customers here will find products sourced from within a 70 km radius. There is still plenty of space in the shop for small-scale producers. When we opened in May 2018, we started with products from 23 producers. By the end of the year, customers could purchase goods from 69 producers, including bakery items, meat and dairy products, fresh and processed vegetables and fruits, teas, spices, and handmade crafts.

The regulations for selling at farmers’ markets are different from those for selling in a retail store. Small producers must meet additional standards if they wish to sell through the shop. We actively support them in this process.

We are also working to expand the community of conscious consumers—people who choose Helyénvaló because they want to consume fresh, healthy, environmentally friendly products that reflect our traditions, strengthen social cohesion and community spirit, and contribute to a sense of identity. They understand that by purchasing these goods, they are supporting rural life and helping to shape a thriving vision for the future.

At this stage, we still often need to explain to new visitors why we don’t carry products that aren’t made in Székelyföld—or that simply aren’t “helyénvaló” (which in Hungarian means “appropriate” or “right”).

You can also visit the online store:

www.helyenvalo.ro.