Agriculture of the Middle

Research, education and policy strategies that keep farmers and ranchers on the land

  • Home
  • About
    • Research
    • Education
    • Policy
  • People
  • Publications
    • Definitions
    • Background Reading
    • Research
    • Guides for Producers and Extension Educators
    • Values-Based Food Supply Chain Case Studies
    • Teaching Materials
    • Food Hubs Map
  • Participatory Action

A regional imperative: the case for regional food systems

Katherine Ruhf and Kate Clancy recently released an extensive report that explores the concepts, practices, challenges, and promise of regional food systems. The report’s focus is on the Northeast U.S., a laboratory for regional food systems thinking and action, but it also describes and gives examples of regional food systems development across the country. The… [Read More]

Filed Under: Background Reading, Definitions, Home, Publications, Research, Resources, Teaching Materials, Values-Based Food Supply Chain Case Studies

2021 Extension and Outreach Publications

Hill, A., and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Documenting selected potential impacts to CO farmers and ranchers of SB21-08 7 Agricultural Workers’ Rights. Policy Brief. https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/research-impacts/agricultural-labor/ Gill, M., and B.R. Jablonski. 2021. Impact of Time Restriction Changes on Market Choices and Food Security. Local Food Systems Response to COVID: Consumer Food Insights. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/LFS-CFI-03.pdf Hill, A., and B.R…. [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Participatory Action, Publications, Resources, Uncategorized

2021 Research Publications

Journal articles and book chapters Jablonski, B.B.R. and C. Payton Scally. 2021. Beyond GDP: Measuring Rural Assets and Why It Matters. In Investing in Rural Prosperity. Federal Reserve Board. Schmit, T.M., B.R. Jablonski, A. Bonanno, and T. Johnson. 2021. Measuring stocks of community wealth and its association with food systems efforts in rural and urban… [Read More]

Filed Under: Publications, Research, Resources, Uncategorized

Milk with Dignity: Worker-centered organizing for social responsibility

Organizing food supply chain partners is a high-leverage way to meet the needs of everyone in the food supply chain—farm workers, farmers, processors and retailers. This case tells the story of a successful effort to align the milk supply chain for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, owned by food giant Unilever. This case is part… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Food Hubs Map

View full screen (map will open in new window)

Filed Under: Food Hubs Map, Publications

Exploring Supplier-Manufacturer Relationships in the Specialty Food Sector

Shermain Hardesty, Robert P. King, Gail Feenstra, Laurie Houston, Jan Joannides, and Larry Lev March 2018 We use results from a survey of specialty food manufacturers to examine how supplier–manufacturer relationships vary in the specialty food sector. While diverse mechanisms govern relationships between manufacturers and suppliers, relational contracts (longstanding, informal commitments) are the most common… [Read More]

Filed Under: Publications, Research

A Survey of Specialty Food Manufacturers to Assess Whether They Represent an Attractive Outlet for Small and Medium-Size Farmers

Robert P. King, Larry Lev, Laurie Houston, Gail Feenstra, Shermain Hardesty, and Jan Joannides September 2017 Small and medium-size farmers are important because of their contributions to economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Most of these farmers, however, can’t compete with larger producers in producing bulk commodities and while some have been successful selling fresh products… [Read More]

Filed Under: Publications, Research

Benefits: How Can Sourcing Directly from Farmers Benefit Specialty Food Manufacturers?

Sourcing directly from farmers can have both benefits and challenges for manufacturers. So what tips the scales? What are the advantages that outweigh the challenges, and how can you, as a farmer, use this to your advantage? Here we address six categories of benefits: communication, interdependence, marketing advantages, transparency, value alignment, and simple economics. Beyond… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Criteria: What Criteria Must You Meet to Sell to Specialty Food Manufacturers?

When considering alternative outlets for your products, supplying specialty food manufacturers may be an attractive option. Knowing what to expect when working with specialty food manufacturers will help you determine if it is the right fit for you and what changes you might need to make. This fact sheet highlights common requirements/criteria that specialty food… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Connections: How Can Farmers and Specialty Food Manufacturers Connect?

Many specialty food manufacturers are sourcing ingredients from small and mid-sized farms. But how do manufacturers and farms find each other and how are the matches made? What can manufacturers and farmers do to make and maintain a good relationship? This fact sheet provides you with insights and recommendations. Beyond Fresh and Direct fact sheets… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Standards: What Standards Must You Meet to Supply Ingredients to Specialty Food Manufacturers?

While quality is a high priority for food manufacturers when sourcing ingredients, it is often not enough. Ingredient quality assurance is almost always required by specialty food manufacturers. If you want to expand your market options, it may be worth investigating certifications for your farm. Beyond Fresh and Direct fact sheets are part of a… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Value Added: Should You Produce Your Own Specialty Food Products?

This fact sheet provides information for you to consider in assessing whether to add value to your farm products and, if this makes sense, tips on how to develop a successful vertically integrated business. Beyond Fresh and Direct fact sheets are part of a project exploring the opportunities and challenges small and medium-size farms encounter… [Read More]

Filed Under: Guides for Producers and Extension Educators, Publications

Policy Workshops and Webinars

The policy objective of the Agriculture of the Middle project is to build the capacity of project members to investigate, address, and communicate policy issues surrounding mid-scale supply chains. Research Briefing for National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition May 31, 2018 We organized a research briefing, delivered as a webinar, for NSAC leadership to hear from NC1198… [Read More]

Filed Under: Background Reading, Publications

Why and How to Include Policy in Ag of the Middle Research

Over the years, NC 1198 members have identified and articulated many issues facing Ag of the Middle producers and their supply chain partners. We all understand that public policy plays a role in the issues, opportunities and impacts on the Ag of the Middle sector. Explicitly addressing policy issues in straightforward ways can enrich our… [Read More]

Filed Under: Background Reading, Publications

Agriculture of the Middle entry from the Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics

In Thompson, PB and DM Kaplan, editors. 2014. Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Springer Science+Business Media, Dordrecht, Netherlands. This entry focuses on ethical issues associated with the decline and potential renewal of mid‐sized farms and ranches in the U.S. The “disappearing middle” was first identified in the 1980s. Contemporary attention to the dynamics of… [Read More]

Filed Under: Background Reading, Publications

Next Page »

What We Do

  • Education
  • Policy
  • Research

Publications

  • Definitions
  • Background Reading
  • Research
  • Guides for Producers and Extension Educators
  • Values-Based Food Supply Chain Case Studies
  • Teaching Materials
  • Food Hubs Map
Member log in (coming soon)
Contact our webmaster: mmmille6@wisc.edu

Current funding support provided by United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Multistate project, NC-1198, “Renewing an Agriculture of the Middle: Value Chain Design, Policy Approaches, Environmental and Social Impacts”(2017 -2022).

nifa logo

Copyright © 2023 Board of Regents · University of Wisconsin· Log in