Farm to school programs: exploring the role of regionally-based food distributors in alternative agrifood networks |
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Authors: | Betty T Izumi D Wynne Wright Michael W Hamm |
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Institution: | (1) Kellogg Health Scholars Program, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;(2) Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA |
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Abstract: | Farm to school programs are at the vanguard of efforts to create an alternative agrifood system in the United States. Regionally-based,
mid-tier food distributors may play an important role in harnessing the potential of farm to school programs to create viable
market opportunities for small- and mid-size family farmers, while bringing more locally grown fresh food to school cafeterias.
This paper focuses on the perspectives of food distributors. Our findings suggest that the food distributors profiled have
the potential to help institutionalize farm to school programs. Notably, their relationships with farmers may be a critical
element in expanding the scale and scope of local school food procurement. Their ability to catalyze local school food procurement
however, is limited by the structural context in which farm to school programs operate. Specifically, the oppositional school
year and agriculture production cycle, and tight food service budget constraints disembed and limit the potential of farm
to school programs to decrease the “marketness” of school food procurement and to shift it from a process based largely on
price to one that is more territorially embedded. As farm to school programs continue to gain support, regionally-based food
distributors that have the meaningful relationships necessary to re-embed the school food service market back into the larger
society may be critical to enabling advocates to achieve their goals. |
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