Huong Baca was appointed sales operations manager at the Worcester
Regional Food Hub on Jan. 20.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WORCESTER REGIONAL FOOD HUB
WORCESTER – As of Jan. 20, Huong Baca will assume the role of sales operations manager at the Worcester Regional Food Hub.
In this position, Ms. Baca, a native of Vietnam but a graduate of Worcester Technical High School, will ensure local, healthy food is easily available to all within Worcester County.
“I am very excited that Huong is joining the team at the Food Hub. She brings a well of knowledge which is going to benefit our partner farmers and chefs tremendously,” said Food Hub Director Shon Rainford.
Interacting on a near-daily basis with the farmers of Central Massachusetts, Ms. Baca will match their harvests with the needs of chefs and retailers locally.
“Much of her work will be building relationships with food and beverage directors, chefs, and market managers so they understand the bounty the Food Hub can provide including fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses, maple syrup, honey, grains, and flour,” said Mr. Rainford.
Marketing of Food Hub member products to these outlets – including Nutty Bird Granola, Teaquinox, SpiceNectar, Minuteman KettleCorn, AZ Nordic Kvass, and Bali Marle among others – will also be under Ms. Baca’s purview.
The position was previously held by Joey Hersh. “[He] has been a great asset to the Food Hub and I wish him well as he pursues new ventures in farming and permaculture,” said Mr. Rainford.
Previously, Ms. Baca worked as an account representative at SYGMA Network Inc., a division of Sysco, for 10 years. During that time, she worked to develop relationships with SYGMA Network customers and aid customers in product ordering processes. While SYGMA customers included restaurant chains and independent franchises, the scope of her clientele will broaden at the Food Hub.
As sales operations manager for the Food Hub, she will translate that experience to interactions with Central Massachusetts’ farmers, vendors, restaurateurs, and consumers.
As a six-year-old, Ms. Baca emigrated with her family from Vietnam in 1986 where they had worked as farmers. She draws her passion and inspiration for agriculture and landscaping from that aspect of her early life. What’s she’s learned working firsthand in the industry has led Ms. Baca to prioritize a healthy lifestyle. A Worcester resident, today she enjoys being active both at the gym and in outdoor recreational activities such as running and hiking with her husband and children.
ABOUT THE FOOD HUB
Designed to bolster a robust regional food system, the Worcester Regional Food Hub’s mission is to increase local food access and consumption while recruiting, retaining, and incubating local food entrepreneurs. A nonprofit, the Food Hub provides economic development opportunities to marginalized populations, collectively building healthy, sustainable, and just communities.
ABOUT THE CHAMBER
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in New England representing 2,200 members from all industries and of all sizes located in a service area of 35 cities and towns and other communities in Central Massachusetts and beyond. The organization serves the region’s business community through public policy advocacy, educational and networking events, and economic development efforts. Worcester’s affiliates are Auburn, Blackstone Valley, Central Mass. South, Wachusett Area, and Webster Dudley Oxford. For more information, visit www.worcesterchamber.org.
