Developing Mid-Tier Supply Chains (France) and Values-Based Food Supply Chains (USA): A Comparison of Motivations, Achievements, Barriers and Limitations

Philippe Fleury, Larry Lev, Hélène Brives, Carole Chazoule and Mathieu Désolé
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Philippe Fleury: Social Sciences Department, Laboratoire d’Etudes Rurales, ISARA-Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
Larry Lev: Department of Applied Economics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Hélène Brives: Social Sciences Department, Laboratoire d’Etudes Rurales, ISARA-Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
Carole Chazoule: Social Sciences Department, Laboratoire d’Etudes Rurales, ISARA-Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
Mathieu Désolé: Social Sciences Department, Laboratoire d’Etudes Rurales, ISARA-Lyon, Lyon 69364, France

Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Mid-tier supply chains/values-based food supply chains have emerged, in both France and the United States, as viable alternatives for small and mid-sized farms that had previously struggled. These supply chains deliver more products to a larger region than short supply chains such as farm-direct markets and are distinguished from the dominant long supply chains by (1) products that are differentiated from the mainstream based on superior quality, environmental stewardship and social responsibility; and (2) the characteristics of the strategic relationships that link the supply chain participants. On the demand side, regional supermarkets, restaurants, public and private institutional buyers, and individual consumers have demonstrated their eagerness to seek out and pay premiums for these types of high-quality food products that are delivered via trusted and transparent supply chains and characterized by their authentic farming stories. The set of case studies presented in this paper (three from each country) will highlight both the parallels and differences in the development of these innovative supply chains between two countries with quite dissimilar agricultural and food sector traditions and policies.

Keywords: values-based food supply chains; mid-tier supply chains; comparative analysis; France/the United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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