Abstract
Market access in the local food system of the American Midwest is largely predicated on key social and economic relationships. This study examines the personal networks of emerging farmers enrolled in an incubator farm training program. Drawing from social network and qualitative analysis the study findings yield insights into the relationship between social networks, market access, and financial sustainability among emerging farmers. Some farmers have highly dense support networks with many strong familial ties. Others have smaller support networks characterized by weaker and more sparse ties. Highly individualized farmer characteristics and aspirations are shown to greatly influence the building and maintaining of networks. Advice networks are demonstrated to affect market access, decision-making, and indicators for entrepreneurial success. Smaller advice networks of non–English speaking farmers demonstrate limited market access and access to information. This distinction is highlighted in the discussion of policy and agricultural development programs targeted toward emerging farmers.
Highlights
Keywords Social Network Analysis, Incubator Farms, Local Food System, Entrepreneurship, Immigrant Farmers, Emerging Farmers, Agricultural Development. Alternative food markets such as farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs are increasing in number and scope across the United States, in part from a growing consumer awareness and demand for local food (Brown & Miller, 2008; Hinrichs, 2000)
The theory is exemplified within this case study because the more expansive networks have less redundancy of advice and exhibit more advantageous indicators of market access
A clear delineation is found within this case study between farmers with diverse advice networks and farmers with more limited networks
Summary
Alternative food markets such as farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs are increasing in number and scope across the United States, in part from a growing consumer awareness and demand for local food (Brown & Miller, 2008; Hinrichs, 2000). Farmer decisions regarding which markets to sell their products often are driven by a number of economic, environmental, and demographic factors (Mishra, El-Osta, & Shaik, 2010; Montri, Chung, & Behe, 2021; Peterson, Barkley, Chacón-Cascante, & Kastens, 2012). There are undoubtedly other cultural and social factors that farmers must consider, such as whom the farmer can ask for advice about selling their products. Interpersonal factors, sometimes represented in social networks, combine to influence farmer decision-making. These decisions are especially important to a farm’s long-term success when the farm is small and is just starting (Calo & De Master, 2016; Mailfert, 2007). This case study examines the structure and impacts of emerging farmers’ social networks
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