Abstract
Farm to institution (FTI) efforts aim to increase the amount of locally produced foods, typically fruits and vegetables, served by institutions such as schools, colleges, hospitals, senior meal sites, and correctional facilities. Scholars have cited these efforts as contributing to public health and community-based food systems goals. Prior research has found that relationships based on shared values have played a critical role in motivating and sustaining FTI efforts. We review previous studies, discussing values that motivate participation, and affect practices and relationships in FTI supply chains. We use semi-structured interviews to better understand supply chain actors’ values and motivations and how they affect behaviors, with the aim of informing efforts to increase the scope and effectiveness of FTI efforts. All participants are currently engaged in FTI efforts. We find a mix of social and economic values were present for farmers, distributors, and buyers. Our implications focus on the importance of shared values and relationships, the benefit of local food for businesses along the supply chain, and the potential of non-school institution markets as entry points for farmers.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allaire, G., & Wolf, S. (2004). Cognitive models and institutional hybridity in agrofood innovation. Science, Technology and Human Values, 29(4), 431–458.
Allen, P., & Guthman, J. (2006). From “old school” to “farm-to-school”: Neoliberalization from the ground up. Agriculture and Human Values, 23(4), 401–415.
Block, F. (1990). Postindustrial possibilities: A critique of economic discourse. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Bloom, D., & Hinrichs, C. (2010). Moving local food through conventional food system infrastructure: Value chain framework comparisons and insights. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 26(1), 13–23.
Boeije, H. (2002). A purposeful approach to the constant comparative method in the analysis of qualitative interviews. Quality & Quantity, 36, 391–409.
Charmaz, K., & Mitchell, R. (2001). Grounded theory in ethnography. In P. Atkinson (Ed.), Handbook of ethnography (pp. 160–174). London: Sage.
Chenitz, W., & Swanson, J. (1986). From practice to grounded theory. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley.
Conner, D., Knudson, W., Hamm, M., Peterson, H., & Christopher, H. (2008). The food system as an economic driver: Strategies and applications for Michigan. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 3(4), 371–383.
Conner, D., King, B., Koliba, C., Kolodinsky, J., & Trubek, A. (2011a). Mapping farm-to-school networks implications for research and practice. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 6(2), 133–152.
Conner, D., Nowak, A., Berkenkamp, J., Feenstra, G., Van Soelen Kim, J., Liquori, T., et al. (2011b). Value chains for sustainable procurement in large school districts: Fostering partnerships. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 1(4), 55–68.
Conner, D., King, B., Kolodinsky, J., Roche, E., Koliba, C., & Trubek, A. (2012a). You can know your school and feed it too: Vermont farmers’ motivations and distribution practices in direct sales to school food services. Agriculture and Human Values, 29(3), 321–332.
Conner, D., Izumi, B., Liquori, T., & Hamm, M. (2012b). Sustainable school food procurement in large K-12 districts: Prospects for value chain partnerships. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 41(1), 100–113.
Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. (Eds.). (1994). Introduction: Entering the field of qualitative research. In Handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Falat, S. (2011). Scaling up—Buy local, sell fresh: Lessons from Michigan growers, suppliers and sysco. Master’s Thesis, Michigan State University.
Feenstra, G., & Ohmart, J. (2012). The evolution of the School Food and Farm to School movement in the United States: Connecting childhood health, farms, and communities. Childhood Obesity, 8(4), 280–289. doi:10.1089/chi. 2012.0023.
George, V. (2011). Scaling up and preserving local food values: A value chain analysis of local food procurement in a metropolitan public school system. Master’s Thesis, Michigan State University.
Glaser, B. (1992). Basics of grounded theory analysis. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine.
Harris, D., Lott, M., Lakins, V., Bowden, B., & Kimmons, J. (2012). Farm to institution: Creating access to healthy local and regional foods. Advances in Nutrition: An International Journal, 3(2), 343–349. doi:10.3945/an.111.001677.and.
Heyl, B. (2002). Ethnographic interviewing. In P. Atkinson, A. Coffey, S. Delamont, J. Lofland, & L. Lofland (Eds.), Handbook of ethnography (pp. 369–383). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hinrichs, C. (2000). Embeddedness and local food systems: Notes on two types of direct agricultural market. Journal of Rural Studies, 16, 295–303.
Izumi, B., Alaimo, K., & Hamm, M. (2010a). Farm-to-school programs: Perspectives of school food service professionals. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 42(2), 83–91.
Izumi, B., Rostant, O., Moss, M., & Hamm, M. (2006). Results from the 2004 Michigan Farm-to-School Survey. Journal of School Health, 76(5), 169–174.
Izumi, B., Wright, D., & Hamm, M. (2009). Farm to school programs: Exploring the role of regionally-based food distributors in alternative agrifood networks. Agriculture and Human Values, 27(3), 335–350.
Izumi, B., Wright, D., & Hamm, M. (2010b). Market diversification and social benefits: Motivations of farmers participating in farm to school programs. Journal of Rural Studies, 26(4), 374–382.
Kane, D. (2012). Remarks to plenary session, School Food FOCUS Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. May 8, 2012.
Kloppenburg, J., Wubben, D., & Grunes, M. (2008). Linking the land and the lunchroom: Lessons from the Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch Project. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 3(4), 440–455.
Miles, M., & Huberman, M. (1984). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Murdoch, J., Marsden, T., & Banks, J. (2000). Quality, nature, and embeddedness: Some theoretical considerations in the context of the food sector. Economic Geography, 76(2), 107. Retrieved January 17, 2012 from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/144549.
Nyaga, G. N., Whipple, J. M., & Lynch, D. F. (2010). Examining supply chain relationships: Do buyers and suppliers perspectives on collaborative relationships differ? Journal of Operations Management, 28, 101–104.
Nygard, B., & Storsad, O. (1998). De-globalisation of food markets? Consumer perceptions of safe food: The case of Norway. Sociologia Ruralis, 38, 35–53.
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Polkinghorne, D. (2005). Language and meaning: Data collection in qualitative research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 137–145.
Renting, H., Marsden, T., & Banks, J. (2003). Understanding alternative food networks: Exploring the role of short food supply chains in rural development. Environment and Planning A, 35(3), 393–411.
Sage, C. (2003). Social embeddedness and relations of regard: Alternative ‘good food’ networks in South-west Ireland. Journal of Rural Studies, 19(1), 47–60.
Schafft, K. A., Hinrichs, C. C., & Bloom, J. D. (2010). Pennsylvania farm-to-school programs and the articulation of local context. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 5(1), 23–40. doi:10.1080/19320240903574155.
Strauss, A. (1987). Qualitative analysis for social scientists. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Strohbehn, C., & Gregoire, M. (2008). Local food connections. Foodservice considerations. Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/PM1853C.pdf. Accessed July 12, 2012.
Swenson, D. (2006). The economic impacts of increased fruit and vegetable production and consumption in Iowa: Phase II. Ames, IA: Regional food systems working group Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University.
Swenson, D. (2010). Selected measures of the economic values of increased fruit and vegetable production and consumption in the upper midwest. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University.
Tesch, R. (1990). Qualitative research: Analysis types and software tools. New York: Falmer.
United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. (2011). Food CPI and expenditures: Table 3—Food away from home: Total Expenditures. Washington, DC.
Vallianatos, M., Gottlieb, R., & Haase, M. (2004). Farm-to-school: Strategies for urban health, combating sprawl, and establishing a community food systems approach. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 23, 414–423.
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). (2011). Farm to plate strategic plan: A ten year strategic plan for Vermont’ food system. Accessed July 11, 2012.
Vogt, R., & Kaiser, L. (2008). Still a time to act: A review of institutional marketing of regionally-grown food. Agriculture and Human Values, 25(2), 241–255.
Winter, M. (2003). Embeddedness, the new food economy and defensive localism. Journal of Rural Studies, 19(1), 23–32.
Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Project Number 2010-85211-20464.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Conner, D.S., Sevoian, N., Heiss, S.N. et al. The Diverse Values and Motivations of Vermont Farm to Institution Supply Chain Actors. J Agric Environ Ethics 27, 695–713 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-013-9485-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-013-9485-4