Rural consumer response to a food distribution innovation that connects farmers, retailers, and buyers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zoe van Vlaanderen ◽  
Marilyn Sitaker ◽  
Weiwei Wang ◽  
Jane Kolodinsky
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Food Distribution ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Rural Economies ◽  
Box Models ◽  
Consumer Surveys

Abstract The Farm Fresh Food Box (F3B) strategy is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and short value chain models that aims to stimulate rural economies, creates an additional sales avenue for small farmers, provides rural grocery stores with increased foot traffic and overcomes barriers for rural consumers who are unable to access local food. The F3B project is a tri-state collaboration of extension and research partners from three states; two on the West Coast and one in the Northeast United States, involving small farmers and retailers from rural communities. This article analyzes F3B consumer surveys from 2 years of project implementation and contributes to the limited body of research on food box models by identifying benefits and barriers of the F3B strategy for consumers, comparing these findings to existing research on food box programs and other DTC market channels, and discussing implications for future model adjustment. Overall, consumers were pleased with all aspects of the F3B. However, the strategy had limited success with reaching a new demographic of local food consumers.

Using consumer surveys to determine food sustainability

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 1194-1204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Martindale
Keyword(s):  
Food Service ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Frozen Foods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Frozen Food ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Consumer Surveys ◽  
Meal Planning ◽  
Assess Quality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define the sustainability attributes of frozen and fresh food consumption in a typical household. The reason for writing this paper is that food preservation is often overlooked when developing sustainability strategies. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses established carbon footprint data for specific food types and consumer survey data to determine how consumers use fresh and frozen products in the home. Consumption and waste data for 83 households was obtained using a combination of narrative and graphical association questions. Findings – The results show greenhouse gas emissions associated with a diets containing frozen food are reduced because 47 per cent less frozen foods is wasted as compared to fresh foods with a typical household wasting 10.4 per cent of fresh food and 5.9 per cent frozen food. Research limitations/implications – This research has highlighted the importance of understanding the waste impacts of catering and food service consumption outside the home. Practical implications – This research will guide future product development for frozen foods with regard to dietary planning and portion control. Social implications – The cost and sustainability benefits of meal planning are identified and these will inform policy making and education to improve dietary choices. Originality/value – This work extends the scope of current consumer surveys that assess quality, value and taste attributes to sustainability criteria and it will enable collaboration between fresh and frozen product categories to deliver sustainable dietary options.

scholarly journals When Amazon ate Whole Foods: big changes for Big Food

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Phillips-Connolly ◽  
Aidan J. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Food Value

The grocery store is ground zero in the tsunami of change facing Big Food. Consumers are changing how they relate to grocery stores, increasingly circling the perimeter, focusing on produce and preferentially choosing fresh, local, and new, even unknown, brands while spending less time in the processed food aisles in the center. The next generation, the millenials, are increasingly shunning traditional outlets when buying food. Traditional leading brands of processed food, backed by traditional marketing strategies (heavy advertising on traditional media, coupons, brand extensions, etc.) are failing to hold on to their customers. The challenges can be found throughout the food value chain, from new competitors for grocery providers to new delivery mechanisms, from changes in generational food preferences with social media platforms to express their preferences to farmers who increasingly can and want to communicate directly with the end-users who actually eat the food that they produce. This access to more information opens more options (and opportunities) to buyers and suppliers all along the food value chain. Barely 100 years old, the grocery store model is becoming obsolete, and with it the organization of the food value chain must be re-written. So what does that mean for Big Food and the food supply chain? What directions can the industry take to adjust to the new competitive realities? This paper offers direction and guidance for Big Food and other producers in the food supply chain.

Status of Small Farmers in Onion Value Chain in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnah Jefferson Mercado ◽  
Wilfred Jamandre ◽  
Edilyn Lansangan ◽  
Helene Mescallado
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Small Farmers ◽  
San Jose

scholarly journals The rise of the local food movement and its impact on rural economies: With examples from the Region of Durham

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Stacey Jibb
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
Food System ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Personal Relationships ◽  
Local Food Movement ◽  
Local Food System ◽  
Rural Economies ◽  
Food Economy ◽  
Food Movement

<p>Rural economies across North America continue to see the positive impacts of the rise of the local food movement and the evolution of the local food system. Local food is a fluid definition impacted by several factors. Government policy, geography and the personal relationships that develop between producer and consumer all play a part in shaping what is local. This has altered how consumers interact with the local food economy and has given rise to direct-farm marketing and agri-tourism as ways to participate in the local food system. Using examples from northern Durham Region, this paper examines how rural economies are impacted by the growing demand for access to local food and how that translates into direct impacts for the local economy. </p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>local food, local food movement, rural economies, direct-farm marketing, food economy</p>

scholarly journals Community capacity for creativity based rural development in a developing country. Case studies from Indonesia.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tubagus Furqon Sofhani ◽  
◽  
Fikri Zul Fahmi ◽  
Dika Fajri Fiisabiillah ◽  
Brigitta Sadnya Wulandari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Creative Economy ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Local Resources ◽  
Rural Economies ◽  
Actor Networks

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which a rural community develops a capacity to support the establishment of a local creative economy despite various limitations. This study employs qualitative research methods in examining two villages in Indonesia, namely Kasongan and Krebet. Our findings show that the community capacity and actor networks potentially spark the development of rural economies. Local communities in both cases have utilized cultures and traditions as creative capitals, which were commercialized through communal entrepreneurship and mobilized by an organized network of creative actors. Social values, namely a strong sense of belonging, high shared values and strong emotional connections, are found to be the key factors that foster creative potentials, entrepreneurial capacity, and capacity for mobilization of local resources within the rural communities

scholarly journals Losses, Gains, and Changes to the Food Environment in a Rural Kentucky County during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3929
Author(s):  
Makenzie L. Barr ◽  
Courtney Martin ◽  
Courtney Luecking ◽  
Kathryn Cardarelli
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Home Food Environment ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Home Food ◽  
Community Food Environment ◽  
Made In

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused alterations to be made in the way many people access, prepare, and consume food. Rural communities are particularly impacted due to pre-existing structural vulnerabilities, i.e., poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited fresh food options. This study aimed to characterize experiences of one rural Appalachian community’s changes to the food environment during the pandemic. In April 2021, six focus groups were conducted with residents of Laurel County, Kentucky. Using grounded theory, we identified losses, gains, and overall changes to the community food environment since the onset of COVID-19. Seventeen Laurel Countians (17 female; ages 30–74) participated in the six focus groups. Three main themes emerged regarding food environment changes—(1) modifications of community food and nutrition resources, (2) expansion and utilization of online food ordering, and (3) implications of the home food environment. Rural communities faced considerable challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part, due to gaps in existing infrastructure and loss of pre-existing resources. This study illustrates the complexity of changes occurring during COVID-19. Using the preliminary data obtained, we can better understand pre-existing issues in Laurel County and suggestions for future programming to address the inequitable access and response during public health emergencies and beyond.

scholarly journals Social Norms Influencing the Local Food Environment as Perceived by Residents and Food Traders: The Heart Healthy Hoods Project

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 502 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Sandín Vázquez ◽  
Jesús Rivera ◽  
Paloma Conde ◽  
Marta Gutiérrez ◽  
Julia Díez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Food Purchasing ◽  
Pace Of Life ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Middle Socioeconomic Status

Exploring subjective elements of the food environment remains key to understand why and how residents purchase food. Our aim was to explore and describe the social norms relating to the local food environment and food purchasing behaviors, as perceived by residents and food traders in Madrid, Spain. This qualitative study took place in a middle socioeconomic status neighborhood of Madrid between January 2015 and May 2016. We conducted 35 semi-structured interviews. We used stratified purposive sampling to recruit residents, neighborhood workers (N = 20) and food traders (N = 15) representing different levels of involvement with food purchasing behaviors. We analyzed these data using an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Participants highlighted social aspects of the food environment in relation to food purchasing behaviors. First, interpersonal and relational food environment elements were emphasized, including trust and tradition. Participants also identified generational demographic trends in relation to changes in the way residents purchased food: the new pace of life and the lack of time to buy fresh food and to cook at home. All these elements were influenced by the economic crisis. Food environment interventions aiming to improve food purchasing behaviors and residents’ diets should consider intermediate social aspects of the food environment like trust and tradition and the fast pace of life of younger generations.

scholarly journals Buyer and Nonbuyer Barriers to Purchasing Local Food

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-463
Author(s):  
Lingqiao Qi ◽  
Adam N. Rabinowitz ◽  
Yizao Liu ◽  
Benjamin Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Local Agriculture ◽  
Food Purchases ◽  
Shopping Location ◽  
Zip Code

Policymakers and value chain members often use a one-size-fits-all strategy to increase local food consumption. Our results indicate this approach may not be effective; local food buyers and nonbuyers have differing barriers to purchasing more or accessing local food. We examine the effect of demographics, health indicators, shopping location, and zip code on those barriers. Prices and availability are barriers for both buyers and nonbuyers. Consumers with higher healthy diet scores are more likely to think about local food availability. Providing specific products is a more viable strategy than creating additional purchasing venues. These results are important, as governments seek to increase local food purchases and enhance local agriculture.

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