The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative announced the upcoming launch of the Super Transportation Cooperative, a statewide logistics initiative designed to improve food access, support local farmers, and build a more resilient and efficient food system across Wisconsin.
The STC will be formally introduced at a community event on April 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Eighth10 in Waupaca, where attendees can learn more about the initiative’s vision, impact, and opportunities for collaboration. The evening will feature locally sourced cuisine prepared by J’s BBQ, highlighting Wisconsin-grown ingredients and the producers behind them.
Wisconsin’s local food system has demonstrated significant momentum in recent years. In just two years, coordinated efforts through programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) initiative helped deliver $4.2 million in fresh, Wisconsin-grown food, supported 72 small and mid-scale farmers, and reached 108 counties statewide.
Recent shifts in federal funding priorities have disrupted that progress, underscoring the need for long-term, infrastructure-based solutions. The STC was designed to meet that need.
Built on a shared hub-and-spoke transportation network, the Super Transportation Cooperative will:
- Reduce transportation costs by optimizing routes and maximizing truck capacity
- Eliminate duplication across food hubs, nonprofits, and agencies
- Improve statewide coordination of food distribution
- Reduce fuel use, labor costs, and food waste
- Strengthen reliable access to local food for schools, pantries, and community programs
Currently, more than 100 farmers are actively participating in the system, with that number expected to grow as the network expands.
By stabilizing transportation and aggregation, the STC helps ensure that procurement investments directly benefit small and mid-sized producers, rather than being lost to inefficiencies or external distribution channels.
The initial soft launch demonstrated significant promise utilizing funds from Wisconsin Economic Development Council for a feasibility study.
