Lifestyle or profit? The complex decision-making criteria for local food entrepreneurs

Edward Crowley (), Steven Austin Stovall (), Nick Johnston () and Julie Weathers ()
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Edward Crowley: Southeast Missouri State University
Steven Austin Stovall: Southeast Missouri State University
Nick Johnston: University of Arkansas
Julie Weathers: Southeast Missouri State University

Agriculture and Human Values, 2024, vol. 41, issue 1, No 15, 225-238

Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide a holistic examination of local food entrepreneurs (LFE) across the local food system (LFS) of a specific U.S. geographic region, including the drivers and barriers to their success. Over the past few decades, there has been a surge in entrepreneurs becoming involved in the LFS which includes the production (farming and manufacturing), distribution, and retail of local ag-related products and services. The LFS is complex and entrepreneurs operating within the system are often met with steep barriers of entry and have trouble maintaining long-term success. Through recorded semi-structured interviews of LFEs (producers, processors, and purveyors) in the Missouri Ozark region, data was gathered and coded according to grounded theory methodologies. From the data collection, 24 emergent themes were identified using thematic clustering. These were further consolidated into eight categorical themes (strategy, skills development, financially sustainable model, differentiation drivers, operational drivers, external drivers, internal constraints, and external constraints) and three over-riding themes (approach, drivers, and barriers). This cross-sectional approach in examining entrepreneurs across the value chain in an LFS provides new insights into the unique entrepreneurial mindset of LFEs.

Keywords: Farm; Farm economy; Farm food economy; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial barriers; Local food entrepreneur (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10485-9

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