Increasing public Participation in Alternative Food Networks
to Support Small and Mid- Sized Farms
Alternative Food Networks (AFNs)—such as farmers markets, farm stores, and CSAs—are relationship-based models that shorten the supply chain and promote fair pricing, transparency, and sustainability.
Small and mid-sized farms are more likely to survive when they sell directly to consumers through AFNs. However, these models have remained niche, with limited growth over the past few decades.
Our research aims to explore how AFNs can better meet diverse consumer needs and cultural preferences, and to identify messaging strategies that resonate with a broader New England customer base.
Research Findings
Read about our preliminary research and our first publication in the Journal of Food Quality and Preferences.
Check out our Research Briefs about what attributes of food New Englanders prioritize and where New Englanders buy local farm food and how often!
🔍 Read more about our study here.
Funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI), Award #110394.