It was introduced not too long ago: The nation’s first plant-based salmon burger is “caught” proper right here within the coronary heart of Licking County. Salmon is simply the most recent plant-based seafood possibility amongst many below model title Good Catch created by a producer who produces one-of-a-kind merchandise within the Port Authority’s industrial park.
This international-worthy information has quietly been increase domestically in central Licking County for just a few years now. Seizing upon a world development, Gathered Meals markets salmon, tuna, crabcakes, fish sticks, and different Good Catch seafood merchandise aided by a clear new constructing and an in a position workforce. Order your first plant-based seafood at GoodCatchFoods.com immediately.
It’s true! Plant-based meals is a factor in Licking County. Massive time.
A British-Chinese language three way partnership was first. GB Meals and Gushen America discovered a brand new industrial constructing constructed on hypothesis by the Port Authority and began up in 2017. GB expanded in 2018 and mixed with Gathered Meals’s new location to realize a complete manufacturing functionality six instances greater by 2019. Nature’s One adopted in 2020 and KeHo Meals in 2021.
Plant-based meals has certainly discovered Heath to be an excellent residence. In 4 quick years, the numbers went from zero to 5 firms and from no buildings to 5 buildings mixed with over 223,000 sq. ft below roof.
It’s been fairly a development. Plant-based meals produced and distributed out of Heath now contains all kinds of elements (soy protein crisps and non-GMO soy isolates) to client merchandise (protein bars, natural child system, and a few wonderful tasting, chef-inspired seafood with out fish in it).
Plant-based meals are fashionable in their very own proper. The pandemic has confirmed the worth of protein-rich, shelf-stable choices. The Plant Based mostly Meals Affiliation experiences, in 2020, that 57% of American households introduced some plant-based meals into their kitchens. It’s the sooner rising section of the rising meals trade, by virtually double.
The development isn’t left to simply vegans and vegetarians. In response to the PBFA 98% of plant-based patrons additionally purchase animal meat. Absolutely 79% of Millennials and Era Z eat plant-based meals.
Licking County is a spot for this rising trade sector to thrive too.
The recipe for plant-based meals trade success is similar recipe for manufacturing success. Combine manufacturing tradition, an accessible manufacturing workforce, and manufacturing-focused academic infrastructure. Fold in a pipeline of future manufacturing employees, streamlined planning processes, sensible incentives, and ready-to-go websites and buildings.
The neighborhood is constructing on these tendencies. There’s a Southgate Company 65,000 sq. ft. new spec constructing accessible proper now which is well-suited for meals manufacturing. A clear, new speculative constructing is being constructed subsequent door to those different producers by the Port Authority. Earlier than Summer season, one other 30,000 sq. ft. constructing might be accessible for a brand new tenant.
C-TEC is gearing up pre-employment coaching particularly for the meals trade workforce. STEM studying efforts at The Works are seizing upon the development too with a recognition that plant-based meals may be very a lot a mixture of science and expertise.
I’ll predict our neighborhood’s outsized function within the plant-based meals trade will proceed into 2022 and past.
Rick Platt is the President and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority, a daily improvement column author, and a father of 4 who lives in Newark. He’s a JobsOhio Board member.
