@article{Katchova:164519,
      recid = {164519},
      author = {Katchova, Ani L. and Woods, Timothy A.},
      title = {Local Foods and Food Cooperatives: Ethics, Economics and  Competition Issues},
      address = {2013},
      number = {1639-2016-135199},
      series = {University of Kentucky Ag Econ Staff Papers},
      pages = {22},
      year = {2013},
      abstract = {Consumer interest in locally produced foods marketed  through local food networks has been increasing. Local food  networks utilize local supply chains such as direct market  sales to consumers through CSAs, farmers markets, farm  stands, and other alternative outlets. Our goal is to  examine the role of food cooperatives in strengthening the  local food networks and distributing locally produced  products. We utilize data from a national study which  includes case studies with three leading food co-ops and a  national survey of the general managers of food co-ops. We  focus on analyzing the business strategies and competitive  advantages of food co-ops sourcing local foods from local  producers and marketing these local foods to consumers. We  identify the emerging business practices, ethics  principles, and competition issues for food co-ops with  respect to sourcing and marketing of local products.  Specifically, we provide a literature review on local food  systems, examine local food definitions and recent trends  for food co-ops, examine the business models and ethics  principles for food co-ops, discuss the business strategies  in sourcing and marketing of local foods by food co-ops,  and examine the frequency and effectiveness of these  business strategies to source and promote local foods. We  show that when compared to other grocers, food co-ops have  competitive advantages in working with local producers and  often play a key role in the local producers’ business  viability.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/164519},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.164519},
}