Growing Local

Case Studies on Local Food Supply Chains

Robert P. King, Michael S. Hand, Miguel I. Gomez

• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780803258167
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Agribusiness
• Index: Business

In an increasingly commercialized world, the demand for better quality, healthier food has given rise to one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. food system: locally grown food. Many believe that "relocalization" of the food system will provide a range of public benefits, including lower carbon emissions, increased local economic activity, and closer connections between consumers, farmers, and communities. The structure of local food supply chains, however, may not always be capable of generating these perceived benefits.

Growing Local reports the findings from a coordinated series of case studies designed to develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how local food products reach consumers and how local food supply chains compare with mainstream supermarket supply chains. To better understand how local food reaches the point of sale, Growing Local uses case study methods to rigorously compare local and mainstream supply chains for five products in five metropolitan areas along multiple social, economic, and environmental dimensions, highlighting areas of growth and potential barriers. Growing Local provides a foundation for a better understanding of the characteristics of local food production and emphasizes the realities of operating local food supply chains.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Acknowledgments
• Part 1. Understanding Local Food Systems from a Supply Chain Perspective
• 1. From Farms to Consumers: An Introduction to Supply Chains for Local Foods
• 2. Research Design for Local Food Case Studies
• Part 2: Case Studies on Local Food Supply Chains
• 3. Apple Case Studies in the Syracuse MSA
• 4. Blueberry Case Studies in the Portland-Vancouver MSA
• 5. Spring Mix Case Studies in the Sacramento MSA
• 6. Beef Case Studies in the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington MSA
• 7. Fluid Milk Case Studies in the Washington DC Area
• Part 3: A Synthesis of Case Study Findings
• 8. Product Prices and Availability
• 9. What Does Local Deliver?
• 10. Can Local Food Markets Expand?
• 11. What Role Do Public Policies and Programs Play in the Growth of Local Foods?
• 12. A Look to the Future
• Contributors
• Index
• About Robert P. King
• About Michael S. Hand
• About Miguel I. Gómez
• Series list