August 8, 2023

Developing Markets For Black Farmers

Mr. Demetrius Hunter addresses food insecurity by offering a hub of Black-grown food products

Fourth-generation farmer Demetrius Hunter is the founder and C.E.O. of The Black Farmer's Hub, a storefront located in Raleigh, North Carolina that primarily features Black-grown food products. The brick-and-mortar was purchased with its historical context in mind, as the area once known for its vulnerable past now serves as a junction between Black farmers and the local community. 

The company's mission is to provide a market that shares quality foods to communities with otherwise restricted access, while supporting local Black farmers and agribusinesses in the process. Through the work of The Black Farmer's Hub, Hunter also supports the development of farmers' markets within local medical, senior, and faith-based communities throughout the Raleigh area. 

Mr. Hunter serves as the Program Director of Grocers on Wheels, a premiere service that delivers fresh produce to rural and urban communities in Central North Carolina. Grocers on Wheels builds upon the legacy of Hunter's father, Zelb Hunter, who delivered fresh produce throughout formally segregated neighborhoods. Hunter continues his 100-year-old family tradition by opening a second hub storefront that serves a rural county within the region. 

Hunter was collaborator for the Farm to Church Network with the Rural Advancement Foundation International, which distributes produce sourced from Black farmers throughout the state. He is also a North Carolina native and a graduate of Cornell University and North Carolina State University. He has combined educational experiences in human resources, industrial labor, and non-profit organizational management. 

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