Perspectives of Public, Private and Civil Sectors in the Development and Maintenance of a Local Food System

Abstract

A local food system has not been formally defined but is commonly characterized by the distance food has traveled between producer and grower. Other characterizations of a local food system incorporate aspects relating to sustainable food production methods, fair labor practices and social relationship, and economic development and/or sustainability. The food system encompasses all entities of society from the individual consumers to the public and private sectors. The purpose of this study was to explore multiple sectors involved in the development and maintenance of a local food system and identify areas of divergence and convergence between groups. For this study, 27 people representing the governmental, civil, or business/production sectors of a metropolitan city in the Midwestern US were interviewed. A general interview guide was used to explore participants’ perspectives of the local food system, future needs and possibilities. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and three trained qualitative coders used grounded theory to explore the local food system. Coding, constant comparison, and memo‐writing were used for the data analysis. Common themes emerged and were compared across sectors. Similar themes included: the need for nutrition education and awareness of local foods in individual community members, limited human, financial and infra structural resources for developing a strong local food system, lack of local, governmental policies supporting the local food system efforts, and the importance of collaboration through the development of a strong, stable food policy council. Areas of divergence were as follows First, governmental representatives identified the lack of resources within the public sector as a main barrier to the development of the local food system. Second, civil representatives insinuated the importance of having a local food system that was all inclusive of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and was culturally‐appropriate. Third and finally, producers asserted that the local food system should not be reliant up the public sector but to be self‐sustaining. In conclusion, it is important for each to understand the perspectives of other sectors and collaborate together in an organized manner to enable the development and maintenance of a strong, integrated local food system. This study provides a conceptual lens to examine other communities in a similar fashion.Support or Funding InformationNo funding source to disclose.