Food hub pilot holds potential for region

Rural grocery stores are fighting to survive, but a new effort in north-central North Dakota could change the math. The proposed North Central Grocery & Food Hub Initiative aims to link small-town grocers with local producers, cutting costs and expanding access to fresh, local food. Backed by a $12.6 million Bush Foundation grant, the plan would streamline distribution, support farmers, and keep dollars in rural communities — a hopeful step toward preserving one of the cornerstones of small-town life: the local grocery store.