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]
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]
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]
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]
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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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
