Journal of agriculture, food systems, and community development

Many agricultural producers live and work in rural areas that have been left behind in broadband internet expansion. A lack of digital inclusion of agricultural communities can stymie agricultural producers’ participation in e-commerce and marketing, use of precision agriculture, and access to infor­mation. To better understand how farm owners and managers access the internet and their digital skills, we conducted a mixed-methods research project using focus groups (N = 4) with partici­pants (n = 26) living in four North Carolina (NC) counties in 2023. We used thematic analysis to qualitatively analyze the focus group data. To quan­titatively assess emerging themes, we then con­ducted a survey of farmers (n = 113) at a statewide farm show in NC in 2024. We calculated descrip­tive statistics for the survey data, including demographics (gender, race, crops or livestock pro­duced, acreage farmed) and experience with de­vices, social media, and troubleshooting. We identi­fied three overarching themes: (1) experiences with internet and digital technologies; (2) impacts of internet access and digital technology, including farmers’ reflections on the critical need for internet connectivity for farm operations and perceptions of negative consequences of not having adequate connectivity; and (3) sentiments toward internet, specifically farmers’ frustration with the current state of connectivity options and opinions on initi­atives to improve connectivity. Findings reveal an imperative for better digital inclusion of farms and agricultural communities across NC.

Over one-third of food produced in the U.S. goes unsold or uneaten, including a large portion of high-quality food that could be donated to indivi­duals utilizing the charitable food system. This formative research study explored barriers to donation and created strategies to improve dona­tion among frontline grocery retailer workers. In this study, we conducted in-depth interviews with grocery retail workers (n = 28), corporate leader­ship (n = 6), and donation partners (n = 5), and a series of in-person meetings with a cohort of 10 frontline worker “Champions” from a large U.S. grocery retail chain to identify common barriers to food donation and co-design strategies to reduce wasted food and improve food donation in their stores. We created four strategies: (1) conduct new trainings; (2) utilize updated donation guidelines with posters and detailed handouts; (3) strengthen connections between donation partners, associates, and stores; and (4) run a donation incentives con­test. Additionally, Champions highlighted the need for open, clear, timely, accessible, and reciprocal communication and feedback as essential to the success of all four strategies. As organic waste ban policies expand, grocery retailers will need to increase the use of alternative solutions, such as donating, to manage surplus food. This project breaks new ground by not only working to identify and address the barriers faced and prioritized by frontline workers, but also by centering the work­ers themselves to create responsive strategies.

Direct-to-consumer channels have developed as alternatives to conventional agri-food systems characterized by long supply chains, market con­centration, and limited connections between pro­ducers and consumers. Yet despite their potential, these channels face significant limitations that con­strain their expansion and keep them largely con­fined to niche markets. In response, food hubs have emerged as intermediaries that aggregate and distribute products from multiple farms, enabling small- and medium-sized producers to reach insti­tutional buyers while preserving the goals and val­ues of local food systems. Synthesizing evidence from 34 peer-reviewed empirical studies, this review consolidates a dispersed body of research by clarifying the organizational and marketing structures, financing approaches, and documented impacts of food hubs. In doing so, the review shows that food hubs should be understood not simply as alternative distribution channels but as organizational intermediaries whose viability depends on the complex coordination of logistics, revenue streams, stakeholder relations, and eco­nomic and social objectives. It also highlights per­sistent challenges in farmer coordination, institu­tional market stability, and financial resilience that underscore the difficulties of sustaining food hubs and scaling local food systems.

First paragraph: The documentary film Serán las dueñas de la tierra (Stewards of the Land) depicts a struggle that every­one in the U.S. should know about: not just to understand how difficult growing healthy food is, but also to see the consequences of colonialism on our unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico and its corrupt land allocation practices. The film follows three landless farmers in Puerto Rico as they try to obtain and keep farmland. Puerto Rico im­ports 85% of its food, and one-third of the population is food insecure. Yet it has large amounts of prime, fertile farmland, water, and sun; under other cir­cumstances, it could be feeding all of its people well and exporting produce. Hurricanes have wreaked havoc on its farms over the past eight years (especially Irma and María in 2017), but better preparation and infrastructure might help farmers to retain more of their crops. . . .

First paragraph: How Do Produce Prescription Programs Work? Produce prescription programs (PPPs) are an innovative strategy for improving healthy food access in order to prevent or treat diet-related illness. Healthcare providers identify patients based on factors such as food insecurity, income, and diet-related health conditions, and then provide “prescriptions” for healthy food, such as vouchers, tokens, or coupons for free or subsidized fresh produce that can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, or local farms. Many programs also provide nutrition education, recipes, and guidance on food preparation and storage. . . .

Produce prescription programs (PPPs) are an innovative strategy for improving healthy food access in order to prevent or treat diet-related illness. Healthcare providers identify patients based on factors such as food insecurity, income, and diet-related health conditions, and then provide “prescriptions” for healthy food, such as vouchers, tokens, or coupons for free or subsidized fresh produce that can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, or local farms. Many programs also provide nutrition education, recipes, and guidance on food preparation and storage. . . .

First paragraphs: Kelly Alexander’s Truffles and Trash: Recirculating Food in a Social Welfare State traces the move­ment of edible but discarded food through Brus­sels’ expanding network of food-recirculation initiatives. The book enters a global conversation on food waste intensified by the 2011 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report estimating that one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Rather than framing waste as the individual consumer’s responsibility, Alexander situates it within the structural logics of capitalist food systems. As she explains, “This project is about innovative and creative ways to recirculate dis­carded food before it becomes food waste, and to do that as a way of caring for other people and for the planet” (p. 41, emphasis in original). Alexander—an anthropologist and food studies scholar—entered the project curious about how certain foods, especially truffles, acquire extra­ordinary value—or are overvalued. Her apprentice­ship at La Truffe Noire, a Michelin-starred restau­rant in Brussels built around one of the world’s most expensive ingredients, quickly confronted her with a different reality: the sheer volume of edible food routinely discarded. “I felt ill peering into that bin every day, seeing so much good-looking food go uneaten” (p. 12). That encounter became a piv­otal moment, shifting her focus from why some foods are prized to how food gains and loses value along a spectrum of edibility. What began as a fixa­tion on waste in one high-end kitchen broadened into a study of food waste across Brussels, explor­ing how surplus is produced, judged, and redistributed. . . .

The Ataulfo is an economically valuable mango variety originating in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Some, but not all, producers are members of marketing organizations. This study sought to evaluate how membership in a marketing organization impacts the livelihood viability of producers in the Soconusco and Istmo-Costa regions. From January 2020 to December 2021, we surveyed 126 producers (34 association members and 92 nonmembers), representing 3% of all Ataulfo producers in the study area. Using cluster analysis, we identified five unique groups of producers: Group 1 (G1), Packing-linked producers (2 producers, 1.6%); Group 2 (G2), Resource-limited producers (48 producers, 38.1%); Group 3 (G3), Intermediate commercial producers (55 producers, 43.7%); Group 4 (G4), Multimarket producers (12 producers, 9.5%); and Group 5 (G5), Export-specialized producers (9 producers, 7.1%). We found that social capital, as represented by association membership, appears to influence the viability of mango growers in diverse and international markets. However, among nonmember producers, those in G3 obtained high profits despite not being organized. While association membership enhances the profitability of G4 and G5, it did not limit the reserves of financial capital in G3. Contrary to the literature suggesting that lack of organization undermines viability, our findings indicate that some nonmember producers achieved high profitability. This result suggests that Ataulfo growers can be successful without belonging to a producer organization. However, socio-environmental threats, such as the advanced age of producers, lack of generational succession, low income, and varying levels of insurance among nonmember groups, pose risks to their long-term viability.

Local food systems (LFSs) have attracted growing interest around the world as locally rooted alternatives to globalized food supply chains. LFSs address persistent multidimensional challenges such as food insecurity, malnutrition, and environmental degradation while advancing more equitable and sustainable food systems, a process often referred to as a socio-ecological transition. Evalu­ation plays a key role in this process by helping LFS stakeholders clarify priorities, identify strengths and vulnerabilities, measure progress, inform necessary adjustments, and underpin accountability. Numerous LFS assessment tools have been published in scholarly and organizational documents to support holistic evaluation mechan­isms covering the social, economic, environmental, and governance dimensions of sustainability. How­ever, researchers and practitioners lack clear guidance on how to choose appropriate assessment tools. This study aimed to identify criteria for selecting LFS evaluation tools that can support effective socio-ecological transitions. Through a scoping review, we identified 22 holistic evaluation tools encompassing 24 components that contribute to a more sustainable vision of LFS. Our analysis yielded seven criteria to guide tool selection. These include (1) relevance to the local context; (2) capacity to assess strengths, assets, and challenges; (3) capacity to guide action; (4) use of a holistic and innovative framework; (5) comparability across territories and scales; (6) community and citizen participation; and (7) capacity to monitor and evaluate deep, systemic transformations. Following our analysis, we recommend adding an evaluation component focused on transition dynamics to monitor structural changes, particularly shifts in norms, policies, and rules that support local food initiatives. This component would also identify the structural barriers and resistance that impede the initiatives’ consolidation. We further recommend that the selection of evaluation components be driven by a collective, stakeholder-led process to ensure alignment with local priorities. Future efforts should prioritize improving data accessibility, strengthening the inclusion of perspectives from vulnerable and Indigenous communities, and establishing mechanisms to explicitly link evaluation findings to policy decision-making.

Institutional capacity is a critical factor in ensuring safe and sustainable local food systems, particularly for fresh foods that are highly perishable and often traded through traditional markets. As an agrarian country and one of the world’s major food producers, Indonesia manages a wide range of fresh, plant-based food commodities that require effective food safety oversight. In this context, strengthening fresh food safety governance supports local producers by promoting safer production standards and practices, while reinforcing traditional markets as trusted channels for fresh food distribution. It also contributes to regional food system resilience by ensuring the availability of fresh foods that are safe in both quantity and quality. Within Indonesia’s decentralized governance structure, Regional Food Safety Competent Authorities (RFSCA) serve as key institutional actors responsible for safeguarding the safety of fresh foods at the subnational level. As of 2025, a total of 34 provincial food affairs agencies have been formally verified as RFSCA. However, the institutional performance of around 60% of these authorities remains uneven and, in several cases, suboptimal. This study examines the institutional drivers influencing RFSCA performance and develops strategies to strengthen their operational capacity using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and Best–Worst Method (BWM). Data was collected from 34 provinces through structured surveys and expert assessments. The findings indicate that adequate budget allocation and standardized institutional mandates function as fundamental drivers of institutional performance. Approximately 80% of RFSCA operate with insufficient budgetary support, while core functions such as monitoring, evaluation, and capacity-building activities are largely dependent on these foundational institutional conditions. The pro­posed framework offers actionable guidance for regional authorities and policymakers to enhance coordination, accountability, and resilience in fresh food safety governance—ultimately supporting safer and more resilient local food systems.

First paragraph: In the Practice of Collective Escape: Politics, Justice and Community in Urban Growing Projects, Helen Traill gives us a personal tour through the social com­plexities of community growing projects, accom­pa­nied by the rich insights of her ethnographic work over six years in Glasgow, Scotland. She follows two community growing sites during the Brexit transition and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her ana­lytical lens weaves the work of authors who have navigated topics of inclusion and exclusion in the Commons, negative and positive freedom, social justice and political activism, and the overall bene­fits and challenges of urban agriculture projects. The author illustrates her claims with illuminating stories and choice quotes from gardeners and the wider community connected to the case studies. Truly, reading this as a researcher who has spent both a fair amount of time with my hands in the soil in urban growing projects and behind the desk reading about them (studying public health benefits and governance challenges), Traill’s book stands apart as an illuminating examination of an infra­structure feature increasingly accepted as a net pos­itive in cities. Yet, these gardens are rarely critically looked at as Petri dishes for individual and com­munity transformation, which this book does through examining concepts of inclusion, individual escape, and political activism. . . .

First paragraphs: This is the final installment in a series of Economic Pamphleteer columns advocating radical changes in government policies. Previous columns have made the case for changing policies that affect farming and food production. This column focuses on additional policy changes needed to revitalize communities—both rural and urban. When I began writing this series, it seemed as if the current political turmoil had created an opportunity for changes that would not have been possible earlier. With growing cultural division and social dissent, it appears we are nearing a time when radical changes in government policies will no longer be optional but necessary. Anything less may be too little, too late. I concluded my previous columns with policy proposals to empower people to create more sustainable agri-food systems locally, within their communities. People in like-minded food com­munities could then form networks to create bio­regional, national, and global sustainable food systems. Over the years, I have become convinced that community-based food networks are the key to creating sustainable food systems. I believe the same is true for economies and societies. Authentic sustainability begins with committed individuals but grows within and among caring communities. Government policies can not create sustainable communities, but radical changes in community development policies could replace current obstacles with opportunities. . . .

Introduction: Massachusetts faces a worsening food insecurity crisis: 37% of households were food insecure in 2024, up from 19% in 2019, with four regional food banks serving 882,000 people (Greater Boston Food Bank, 2025). Yet quantity alone does not ensure health. Food pantry clients consume diets high in processed foods, with Healthy Eating Index scores up to 20 points below national averages (Simmet et al., 2017), and face elevated rates of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (Eicher-Miller, 2020). Massachusetts bears over US$41.4 billion in annual chronic disease costs; preventing just 1% of new diabetes cases statewide would save an estimated US$66 million annually (American Diabetes Association, 2025; Massachusetts Department of Public Health, n.d.). . . .

Agrihoods are residential communities intentionally designed around agriculture and green space to foster connections with food, nature, and neigh­bors. Despite their growing popularity, little is known about who is drawn to these developments or the amenities they value. This study examined the characteristics, health behaviors, and housing priorities of prospective agrihood homebuyers. From March to July 2024, adults interested in pur­chasing a home in a Fort Bend County, Texas, agri­hood (N = 128) completed an online survey dis­tributed through the developer’s marketing channels. Measures included sociodemographics, health behaviors (time spent in nature, amount of sleep, physical activity, fruit and vegetable con­sumption), housing priorities, and willingness to pay more or extend commutes for specific ameni­ties. Respond­ents were predominantly female, racially and ethnically diverse, middle-income, and highly edu­cated. Although many respondents reported health behaviors below national recom­mendations, they expressed interest in health-promoting amenities. Affordability, school quality, and proximity to im­portant places and people emerged as key housing priorities, while most respondents indicated they would be willing to pay more or extend their com­mutes to gain access to opportunities for physical activity, nature, fresh produce, social spaces, and agricultural features. These findings suggest that agrihoods may not only attract individuals already engaged in healthy life­styles but also those who view these environments as potential catalysts for positive behavior change. As such, agrihoods may represent a promising setting for embedding pre­ventive health promotion into residential develop­ment. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether relocation to an agrihood translates into measurable improvements in health outcomes.

First paragraph: In Hoofprints on the Land, Ilse Köhler-Rollefson presents a persuasive and carefully researched argument that traditional pastoral herders are among the most important stewards of the world’s ecologically significant landscapes. She demon­strates how pastoralists maintain seasonal grazing rhythms that have developed through generations of close observation and adaptation. At a time when scientific and policy discussions often focus on technology, efficiency, and optimization, this book encourages readers to consider a different mindset. Köhler-Rollefson argues that traditional pastoral practices do not conflict with sustainability and can instead support locally grounded, ecologically sound livestock systems. . . .

This pilot study examines the technical assistance (TA) needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal agricul­tural producers seeking to access wholesale mar­kets, and the core competencies required of TA providers working to support these objectives. The study draws upon a literature review, a secondary analysis of TA programs across the U.S., and inter­views with 20 TA providers from the Southern, Southeastern, and Midwest/Great Lakes regions. It identifies key challenges that underserved produc­ers face in accessing wholesale markets, factors that determine the adoption of TA resources, and the challenges associated with program delivery by TA providers. To meet these objectives, the study uses reflexive thematic analysis and Latent Dirichlet Allocation. Findings show that regulatory complex­ity, limited capital, land tenure insecurity, infra­structural deficiencies, and information asymmetry were major barriers for producers in accessing wholesale markets. Skepticism about federal pro­gramming, navigating bureaucracy, operational challenges, and cultural factors were reported as barriers preventing producers from accessing avail­able TA. The overarching theme of structural dis­crimination and historical distrust of federal agen­cies further exacerbate these barriers, leading to exclusion from both market opportunities and TA resources. Further, limited capacity, insufficient funding, and cultural barriers affect the TA provid­ers’ ability to develop and provide tailored pro­gramming to support underserved producers and build long-term relationships. The providers identi­fied cultural competency, technical expertise, and communication skills as critical competencies in working with diverse producers. This research underscores the need for culturally responsive TA models, capacity building of producers, place-based infrastructure and provider investment, greater access to secure land and financial capital, and more inclusive communication channels and grant structures. This study contributes to a growing body of work calling for systemic reforms in agri­cultural support systems. Future research that is conducted on a larger scale, that includes producer perspectives and examines impacts of policy shifts on TA programming is needed.

Healthcare institutions are increasingly engaged in efforts to screen patients for food insecurity and connect households to supportive resources, often in direct collaboration with community develop­ment practitioners and aligned with Food Is Medicine initiatives. Evidence of the effectiveness of these efforts, however, is limited. Drawing on data from six focus groups with a total of 42 partic­ipants, conducted in both English and Spanish, this study explores how low-income parental caregivers experience and understand food security screenings within healthcare settings. From there, it identifies communication barriers and opportunities for improvement. The analysis was guided by commu­nication infrastructure theory (CIT), a framework for understanding how a community’s “storytelling network,” consisting of local residents, organiza­tions, and media, can be harnessed for health pro­motion. Findings revealed a complex mix of trust and skepticism. While some caregivers appreciated efforts to connect families with resources, many expressed concern and fear related to stigma, pri­vacy breaches, and potential intervention by child protective services. Spanish-speaking participants also highlighted linguistic barriers that increased frustration with the process. Participants recom­mended that screening processes prioritize choice and provide follow-through with tangible resource connections, ideally facilitated through trusted community intermediaries. Applying CIT, our anal­ysis suggests that healthcare institutions can strengthen food security outreach by building rela­tionships with familiar individuals and organiza­tions in the community’s storytelling network. Doing so requires fostering trust through transpar­ent, empathetic engagement. Overall, the findings demonstrate an important role for practitioners in food systems and community development to develop community-based communication strate­gies with healthcare institutions. This study both advances theory and offers actionable guidance to make food security screening more equitable, effec­tive, and responsive to caregivers’ lived realities.

First paragraph: Michael Grunwald’s book We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate delves into the ugly world of food production and its detrimental impact on the envi­ronment. The book explores the different technol­ogies that have been invented to address the prob­lems caused by the need to produce more food. Grunwald follows the life and the research of a former environmental lawyer, Tim Searchinger. It is through the extensive work of Searchinger that Grunwald was compelled to pen this book. Some of the key themes that stem from this reading are the ethicality of science in pushing certain ideas as being environmentally friendly, as well as the clash between experts and environmental advocates and land usage and food production challenges. The reading makes one aware that land use challenges may be far-reaching, in the sense that demand in one area may create land exploitation in a place far from where the demand is. . . .

Direct sales of agricultural products account for a significant portion of sales in urban areas; therefore, efficient management contributes to the sustainability of urban farming. Recent innovations in real-time image sharing (RTIS) have emerged as tools for urban farmers to improve their direct sales efforts, allowing both farmers and customers to view real-time images of their farm stands. However, how farmers manage information for direct sales within their business models remains poorly understood. In particular, little is known about how RTIS implementation improves farm stand management and how farmers’ information resources and market orientation influence this process. To investigate this, we conducted qualitative longitudinal data collection using a case study approach, interviewing nine farmers in Tokyo who used RTIS for direct-sales marketing. We assessed their information resources, market orientation, and firm performance before and after adopting RTIS. Our findings indicate that RTIS usage helps farmers gather information resources and subsequently adopt a market-oriented approach. Farmers can improve their shipping efficiency after accumulating information resources and enhancing market orientation, especially if they initially have limited information resources but a certain degree of market orientation at the time of RTIS implementation. Farmers also develop process innovation as a strategy integrated with their information resources and market-oriented approach. Additionally, farmers who optimize their shipping systems can improve their farm stand sales, particularly if they adopt process innovation after RTIS implementation. We conclude by discussing the academic and practical implications of our study, along with agricultural policies that support effective RTIS use, considering regional characteristics.

Vacillating trends in the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) have been observed in the U.S. While a decline occurred post-pandemic, the cessation of government assistance programs in 2023 resulted in increased prevalence, particularly among older adults, at 5.6% nationally and 7.4% in central Ohio. FI among older adults is concerning due to its impact on morbidity and mortality. Knowledge of associated correlates within geographic regions is limited. Prevalence of FI can vary by region, and central Ohio has one of the highest FI prevalence rates among older adults in the U.S. For this study, a regional cross-sectional survey with stratified random sampling was utilized to inform future development of a typology for assessing FI risk. Older adults aged 50 and above who reside in one of eight counties in central Ohio were invited to participate. The final, regionally representative sample included 1,417 older adults. Data points were weighted to accurately depict the population distribution of the region. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation coefficients, and chi-square tests were utilized to examine differ­ences between sociodemographic characteristics and food security status. We found the majority of participants who were very low food secure had the following characteristics: identified as a woman, were age 74 years or younger, were divorced, widowed, or single, earned an annual household income at or below US$39,999, had completed either some college but had not earned a degree or earned a high school diploma or GED, were either retired but not seeking work or disabled and unable to work, and lived in an urban region. Findings can inform tailored risk assessments, interventions, and referrals to community-based services and government assistance programs in central Ohio and across similar geographic regions.