Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Bridging the gap: What does it take to bring small- and medium-sized producers and retail and foodservice distributors together?

Project ID: M2006-05

Abstract

Bringing farmers and food distributors together to find common ground could accelerate the spread of locally grown food throughout the food chain.

Key Question: What could Iowa farmers learn about working with food processors and distributors?

Findings: There are opportunities to sell locally-grown food products to food distributors, typical protocols for distribution to larger volume buyers, and food attributes that are important to institutional and retail customers of food distributors.

Lead investigator: Connie Hardy, ISU Value Added Agriculture Extension

Year of grant completion: 2008

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Business management, distribution and marketing, Farm to institution, Market research and feasibility studies