Marketing opportunities and challenges for locally raised meats: An online consumer survey in South Carolina

South Carolina livestock producers are expanding their operations to include local meat sales, with a sizeable number of farmers entering the market for the first time. Little is known about South Caro-lina's local meat consumers and their buying pref-erences. This study aims to identify the demo-graphic traits of local meat consumers, their pre-ferred local meat product attributes, their desired purchasing locations, and a range of prices con-sumers are willing to pay for local meat. This study surveyed 1,048 South Carolina meat consumers. Of these survey respondents, 741 had consumed local meat products within the last 12 months and 307 had not. Results indicate that local meat consumers tend to be younger, reside in larger households, have higher household incomes, and have greater educational attainment. They also may be more likely to be long-term residents of South Carolina. These consumers are willing to pay a 1% to 24% premium for local meats to be eaten at home and US$1.00 to US$1.99 more per entree for local meats at a restaurant. The most desirable attributes of local meat are hormone-free, all-natural, no anti-biotics, and grass-fed. The most popular buying locations are the grocery store, directly from farms, farmers markets, butcher shops, and online order-ing. Most consumers are unwilling to drive more than 20 miles (32 km) to purchase local meat. The study also uncovered barriers to consumers' will-ingness to purchase (or purchase more) local meats: product unavailability, high prices, food safety concerns, convenience, and ease of prepara-tion.

The resilience and viability of farmers markets in the United States as an alternative food network: case studies from Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper examines the resilience of farmers markets in Michigan to the system shock of the global COVID-19 pandemic, questioning how the response fits into market goals of food sovereignty. Adapting to shifting public health recommendations and uncertainty, managers implemented new policies to create a safe shopping experience and expand food access. As consumers directed their shopping to farmers markets looking for safer outdoor shopping, local products, and foods in short supply at grocery stores, market sales skyrocketed with vendors reporting selling more than ever before, but the longevity of this change remains unclear. Our data collected via semi-structured interviews with market managers and vendors, and survey data from customers from 2020 to 21, suggest that despite the widespread impact of COVID-19, there is not sufficient evidence consumers will continue to shop at farmers markets at the rates they did in 2020-21. Furthermore, reasons consumers flocked to farmers markets do not align with market priorities for increased food sovereignty, as increased sales alone are not a sufficient driver for this goal. We question how markets can contribute to broader sustainability goals or serve as alternatives to capitalist and industrial modes of agricultural production, problematizing the role of markets in the food sovereignty movement.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic created a new pattern of sugar cane trading?

The pattern of sugar cane trading that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic has created a new pattern of sugar cane trading in Indonesia. This study aims to determine the pattern of the trading system undertaken by sugarcane farmers, to reveal the role of social capital in shaping the sugarcane trade system during the pandemic. This research is a qualitative research that uses primary data from interviews with key informants by multistage sampling technique. The data processing includes data reduction, data display using Decision Explorer version 3.3 software. Data were analyzed through descriptive methods and content analysis. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic formed a new pattern of sugarcane trading system, switching from a contractual trade model to a free market model (redeemer). The model refutes the theory stating that the contractual model will be more efficient than the free market model due to its lower transaction costs. The proposition (substantive theory) produced in this study states that in conditions of sugarcane commodities facing a captive market, the market mechanism is more efficient than the contractual mechanism. Furthermore, this study found that the development of accelerative information technology during the COVID-19 pandemic (social media) has destroyed social capital between sugarcane farmers and partners (sugar factories) due to cheaper information costs borne by sugarcane farmers.

COVID-19 Responses and Pivots in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina: A Call for Policy Reforms for Small Farmers

While the United States prioritizes agricultural legislation and assistance, policies passed both federally and locally are not always developed with small-scale farms in mind. This inequity became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying how aid money was distributed during times of crisis, we were able to see how small-scale farms are supported through words rather than action. We examine small-scale farmers prior to and during the pandemic in the North Carolina Piedmont region. We focus on the role small-scale farmers and farmers markets play in a local agro-food system through a political economy perspective and highlight some of the challenges, barriers, and responses during the pandemic, including access to farm aid. In addition, we identify strategies for how small-scale farmers persisted during unprecedented times, especially during COVID-19.

Digitalization of the Logistics Process in Short Food Supply Chains. An online Viable System Model application during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper reports an ongoing exercise concerning the design of a logistics App to support operations within Farmers' Markets in Mexico. This exercise is part of a wider research agenda focused on 'Supporting Alternative Food Networks' (SAFeNET). This is a research agenda to conceive, build, implement, and develop better-informing decision-making processes that support effective and efficient AFNs (also known as Short Food Supply Chains) logistics operations in a digital environment, through smooth flows of goods and information among producers, AFNs coordinators, and consumers. This view calls for taking a systemic approach to help collectives of people to improve their autonomy and viability. Initial plans were to conduct this collaborative design exercise, using the Viable System Model (VSM) as a conversational tool. Accordingly, a series of face-to-face interviews and a focus group were planned. However, the lockdown due to COVID-19 forced researchers to abandon the face-to-face option and conduct the primary data collection online. The VSM intervention had to be adapted for its use on an online platform, in such a way that the platform would support knowledge building interactively, with a series of participants. This paper describes the format and visual appearance of the online VSM framework, its application, and the lessons learned through this exercise. Two points deserve to be highlighted: First, although the exercise outcome was very valuable for the next stage of the design, the participants' capacity for collective and individual reflection during the workshop was limited. Second, participants continued adding comments via the adopted online visual collaboration platform after the workshop ended, showing an understanding of the process and commitment beyond the researchers' expectations. The outcomes from this experiment are promissory, suggesting that online Systems Thinking interventions deserve further development.

Contamination assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh pork in the post-epidemic era

[Background] The epidemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the end of 2019 brought challenges to food safety. 【Objective】To evaluate the contamination of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh pork sold in the post-epidemic era. [Methods] During the epidemic period from 2020 to 2021, fresh pork from different locations, different packaging methods and different seasons were selected to analyze the contamination rate and contamination level of Listeria monocytogenes, and the epidemiological characteristics of the isolated strains were analyzed. [Results] The contamination rate of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh pork was 15.28% (77/504), and the contamination rate in pork direct-sale stores and farmers' markets was higher than that in supermarkets. Among different packaging methods, the contamination rates of pre-packaging and simple packaging were higher than those of bulk samples, and there were significant differences in the contamination rates in different quarters, with the highest contamination rate in the third quarter, which was 27.78%. Quantitative results found that 40.26% exceeded 10 MPN/g (MPN: most probable number), and 3 samples had contamination levels over 100 MPN/g. The results of serotype analysis showed that 1/2a-3a (48.05%) and 1/2c-3c (44.16%) were the main serotypes. The results of drug resistance test showed that 19.50% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant, 2 (2.60%) were sensitive to all antibiotics, 68 (88.30%) were resistant to oxacillin, and 46 (59.70%) were resistant to oxacillin. Ampicillin-resistant, 45 strains (58.40%) were resistant to cefotaxime. 【Conclusion】In the post-epidemic era, there are different degrees of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the marketed fresh pork in different locations, different packaging methods and different seasons. The contamination level of individual products is high, and the serum distribution and drug resistance characteristics are diverse. It is necessary to strengthen food safety supervision to reduce the occurrence of foodborne diseases.

Sensory quality and shelf-life of locally produced British butters compared to large-scale, industrially produced butters

Purpose>The purpose of this pilot-scale study was to compare the quality of traditionally manufactured butters from local, small British producers with the quality of butters that are produced industrially.Design/methodology/approach>Butter samples were obtained after supervised site inspections of three traditional-butter manufacturers and one large-scale butter producer. The samples were subject to initial microbiological, chemical and sensory testing, followed by a refrigerated shelf-life study over 24 weeks.Findings>Traditional butters matched or exceeded the sensory quality of industrial butters, but spoilage microorganisms tended to grow faster on traditional butters. This seemed to be related to poorer water droplet dispersion in the manufacture of some of the traditionally made butters. Visible mould appeared on two of the traditional butters after eight weeks, but this occurred well after the nominal “best before” date.Originality/value>Prolonged lockdowns due to the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic pose a threat to the food supply chain, and food produced by local manufacturers may become increasingly important. However, are foods produced by local small-scale manufacturers of a quality comparable to that produced using large-scale production facilities? To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no comparative study of the quality and shelf-life of traditionally-produced and industrially-produced butters. The current work presents such a comparison together with an outline of how the process of traditional butter-making differs from commercial production in Britain.

Manager and vendor perceptions of farmers’ markets’ impacts on communities: evidence from Michigan

Purpose>The purposes of this paper are to: (1) characterize farmers’ market manager and vendor perceptions of the economic, social and environmental impact markets have on their local communities;and (2) how those impacts are tracked and communicated to market actors and the local community.Design/methodology/approach>Twenty-nine semistructured interviews were conducted with market managers and vendors across four farmers’ markets within Michigan. The interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.Findings>Managers and vendors report economic and social and environmental benefits associated with the presence of a farmers' market, consistent with the existing literature. Metrics are tracked to estimate market impact, particularly economic and social benefits. Market managers reported uncertainty about how best to use data internally, and there are gaps in communicating market impacts with vendors. Most data are used for external reporting, to statewide organizations or for grant evaluation. Respondents reported data fatigue and unwillingness among vendors to share personal business information due to concerns about privacy relative to the perceived benefits of sharing data.Practical implications>Additional resources are needed for markets, specifically market managers, to better utilize the data they collect for internal versus external purposes.Originality/value>Metric collection and reporting are a nascent development among markets. Understanding how market actors are utilizing these tools will provide guidance to improve future efforts at impact measurement.

Research report: U.S. farmers markets-essential business survival in disrupting times

In this paper, we evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on farmers market (FM) sales across the United States during the 2020 operating season using survey responses from 420 market managers. Using a multinomial logit model, we evaluate how certain market characteristics are associated with increased probabilities of market organizations gaining or losing revenue in 2020. We find that SNAP sales changes, market location, and COVID-19 intensity impacted revenue outcomes. State COVID-19 policies for FM and the existence of FM assistance organizations had less of an impact.

Confronting and Ending Food Insecurity During and Beyond the Pandemic: A Public Health of Consequence, July 2022

[...]we have substantial information across multiple disciplines on the drivers and consequences of food insecurity. According to the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, food insecurity among US households with children increased from 13.6% in 2019 to 14.8% in 2020, and this increase was greater in communities of color.1 For example, Dubowitz et al. found that low-income African Americans residing in food desert neighborhoods experienced greater increases in food insecurity between 2018 and 2020, from 20.7% to 36.9%, compared with the general population.2 The impact of food insecurity on health care utilization during the pandemic is equally disturbing. [...]supporting local farmers markets that accept produce vouchers will, in addition to increasing access to food banks and mobile pantries for older adults and individuals with limited mobility, enable local communities to meet and sustain local needs in providing healthy produce.

Research update: COVID-19 and marketing challenges for food producers in Louisiana

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the operations of many farm and food businesses across Louisiana. Producers had to adapt to changes or closures of market outlets, including farmers markets, farm-to-school programs, and restaurants. Using data collected from an online survey, this research examines pre- and post-pandemic marketing channels and challenges faced by food producers.

Food supply and COVID -19 an analysis of the farmers markets in Vale do rio pardo-rs

Considering the relevance of actions to strengthen family farming as a strategy to overcome hunger, poverty and food insecurity, this article aims to understand how COVID-19 pandemic is impacting family farm markets at Vale do Rio Pardo region, indicating the challenges experienced in maintaining trade and the consequences for food supply. The research occurred between April and August of 2020, based on an exploratory methodology, with qualitative and quantitative data collection. The results indicate that the majority of local farmers markets remain active thanks to the mobilization of farmers to implement security measures both at personal level and at trading channel. There was also a positive performance by local governmental organizations vis-a-vis farming families, with no records of infection among people involved in the studied cases. The characterization and socio-spatial distribution of farmers markets in the region are an unprecedented and important result in setting an agenda for future research.

Virtual barriers: unpacking the sustainability implications of online food spaces and the Yellowknife Farmers Market's response to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Through their support of local agriculture, relationships, and healthy diets, farmers markets can contribute to a sustainable food system. Markets like the Yellowknife Farmers Market (YKFM) are social spaces that support local food, yet the COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to their current model. We explore the potential of online marketplaces to contribute to a resilient, sustainable food system through a case study of the YKFM. METHODS: In 2019, a collaborative mixed-method evaluation was initiated by the YKFM and university partners in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. The evaluation included an in-person Rapid Market Assessment dot survey and questionnaire of market patrons from two YKFM dates prior to the pandemic. Due to COVID-19, a vendor survey and interviews were deferred. Data collected from the two patron surveys, alongside researcher observations, available literature, public announcements, and informal email and phone discussions, inform the discussion. RESULTS: For the patron surveys, 59 dot survey and 31 questionnaire participants were recruited. The top motivators for attendance were eating dinner, atmosphere, and supporting local businesses, and most patrons attended as couples and spent over half of their time talking to others. The YKFM did not move online; instead, they proposed and implemented a "Shop, don't stop" market. Informal conversations suggested the small scale of the market and technology challenges were perceived barriers to moving online. The physically-distanced market was well-attended and featured in local media. CONCLUSIONS: NWT food strategies rely on farmers markets to nurture a local food system. Data suggest a potential incongruence between an online model and important market characteristics such as the event-like atmosphere. Available literature suggests online markets can support local food by facilitating purchasing and knowledge-sharing, yet they do not replicate the open-air or social experience. The decision not to move online for the YKFM reflects market patron characteristics and current food context in Yellowknife and the NWT. While online adaptation does not fit into the YKFM plan today, online markets may prove useful as a complementary strategy for future emerging stressors to enhance the resiliency of local systems.