Hastings was once branded as the Fruitbowl of New Zealand but a proposed $18 million Food Innovation Hub is set to position Hastings and Hawke’s Bay as the nation’s food capital. Hastings District Council has been the champion of an idea first put forward by local businessman Trevor Taylor in 2013 to develop a one-stop shop that will be used by food and beverage start-ups to create new products; an education facility to upskill people for roles within the food processing sector as well as be the home for government support services to the food industry and a hub for associated support businesses. Lee Neville, the chair of the Hawke’s Bay Innovation Hub Governance Group and economic development lead at Hastings District Council says the hub will be a “think tank” to share ideas, create new and exciting food products as well as developing and show casing innovative food processing equipment. First published by The Profit, for the full article and more great stories visit theprofit.co.nz