The Hidden Benefits of Short Food Supply Chains: Farmers’ Markets Density and Body Mass Index in Italy

Francesco Bimbo, Alessandro Bonanno, Gianluca Nardone and Rosaria Viscecchia

International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 2015, vol. 18, issue 01, 16

Abstract: As more farmers adopt short distribution channels, consumers may benefit from them insofar as they increase access to healthier food options. This may lead to potential societal benefits via a reduction in obesity rates. The relationship between the presence of farmers’ markets and adult Italians’ Body Mass Index (BMI) was assessed by applying quantile regression on a cross-sectional, individual-level database, matched with regional farmers’ markets density figures. Findings illustrate that for most adult Italians, a higher density of farmers’ markets is associated with lower BMIs and that this relationship becomes more marked for individuals with higher BMIs facing limited supermarket access.

Keywords: Consumer/Household Economics; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Institutional and Behavioral Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ifaamr:197756

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.197756

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