Tuskegee University’s Black Belt Marketing and Innovation Center (BBMIC) in Selma, Alabama has undergone extensive transformation in recent years to become a produce research facility, aggregation center, and processing incubator for the Dallas County region.
The BBMIC is fully equipped with an inline washing conveyor, sorting tables, grading tables, pea shellers, greens spinner, and vacuum packaging equipment. But the most critical need fulfilled by the BBMIC for farmers may be its cold storage capacity, since cold storage is vital for extending the shelf life of saleable product and reducing waste.
The BBMIC is one of only a few facilities in the state that provides the equipment and training necessary to increase economic opportunities for agricultural producers who face barriers to accessing markets. This increases the availability of fresh produce for Black Belt families, who can access BBMIC-processed produce via wholesale distribution, direct home delivery to the elderly, two food banks, three farmers markets, and one church.
Additionally, Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension trains the farmers, community members, and interns who engage in processing fruits and vegetables on related topics, including good manufacturing practices, general food safety, and hygiene for food handling.
