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Values-Based Supply Chains as a Strategy for Supporting Small and Mid-Scale Producers in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Gail Feenstra

    (Deputy Director at the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    (Veritable Vegetable, San Francisco, CA, USA))

  • Shermain Hardesty

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and UC Small Farm Progam, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

Abstract

Consumers are increasingly interested in the “values” associated with the food they eat and are often willing to pay more for food for which there is a “story” that links farm to fork. The “values” associated with these foods may be that they are locally produced, by small or mid-scale farms, or use production practices that enhance the environment. Wholesale channels that provide marketing options for small and mid-scale producers and support these values are referred to as “values-based supply chains” (VBSCs). Goals of VBSCs are to: (1) provide greater economic stability for producers and others along the supply chain; and (2) provide high quality, regional food to consumers. After a brief overview of VBSCs, we then describe three cases—a specialty food manufacturer, a natural food cooperative and a regional “food hub”—representing different entry points along the food supply chain. We analyze them regarding the common benefits of VBSCs: transparency, fair prices to farmers and ease of purchasing from small and mid-scale producers. We conclude with common themes that emerge for VBSCs of the future and what it will take to strengthen them within regional food systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Gail Feenstra & Shermain Hardesty, 2016. "Values-Based Supply Chains as a Strategy for Supporting Small and Mid-Scale Producers in the United States," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:6:y:2016:i:3:p:39-:d:76454
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Giaime Berti, 2020. "Sustainable Agri-Food Economies: Re-Territorialising Farming Practices, Markets, Supply Chains, and Policies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Philippe Fleury & Larry Lev & Hélène Brives & Carole Chazoule & Mathieu Désolé, 2016. "Developing Mid-Tier Supply Chains (France) and Values-Based Food Supply Chains (USA): A Comparison of Motivations, Achievements, Barriers and Limitations," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Yuna Chiffoleau & Sarah Millet-Amrani & Arielle Canard, 2016. "From Short Food Supply Chains to Sustainable Agriculture in Urban Food Systems: Food Democracy as a Vector of Transition," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Naemi Schäfer, 2023. "Making transparency transparent: a systematic literature review to define and frame supply chain transparency in the context of sustainability," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(2), pages 579-604, June.
    5. Jordana Fuchs-Chesney & Subhashni Raj & Tishtar Daruwalla & Catherine Brinkley, 2023. "All roads lead to the farmers market?: using network analysis to measure the orientation and central actors in a community food system through a case comparison of Yolo and Sacramento County, Californ," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 157-173, March.
    6. Teresa Hooks & Áine Macken-Walsh & Olive McCarthy & Carol Power, 2017. "The Impact of a Values-Based Supply Chain (VBSC) on Farm-Level Viability, Sustainability and Resilience: Case Study Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Fernianda Rahayu Hermiatin & Yuanita Handayati & Tomy Perdana & Dadan Wardhana, 2022. "Creating Food Value Chain Transformations through Regional Food Hubs: A Review Article," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-24, July.

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