Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States

Sarah Low and Stephen J. Vogel

No 118025, Economic Research Report from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: This study uses nationally representative data on the marketing of local foods to assess the relative scale of local food marketing channels. This research documents that sales through intermediated marketing channels, such as farmers’ sales to local grocers and restaurants, account for a large portion of all local food sales. Small and medium-sized farms dominate local foods sales marketed exclusively through direct-to-consumer channels (foods sold at roadside stands or farmers’ markets, for example) while large farms dominate local food sales marketed exclusively through intermediated channels. Farmers marketing food locally are most prominent in the Northeast and the West Coast regions and areas close to densely populated urban markets. Climate and topography favoring the production of fruits and vegetables, proximity to and neighboring farm participation in farmers’ markets, and good transportation and information access are found to be associated with higher levels of direct-to-consumer sales.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Marketing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38
Date: 2011-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-mkt
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (115)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uersrr:118025

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.118025

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