Date of Graduation

5-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Horticulture

Advisor/Mentor

Moon, Zola

Committee Member/Reader

Karcher, Doug

Committee Member/Second Reader

Worthington, Margaret

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the barriers that prevent local food producers from selling their food in a mainstream market. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative analysis through a mixed-methods survey. Information collected through the study had a two-fold focus: barriers that producers face (or that they are providing assistance for) and what are consumers looking for in products that these producers are supplying. The major barriers found for local food producers in Arkansas were lack of capital and obtaining infrastructure for packaging, processing, and storing products. Qualitative analysis of textual interviews was done to establish more detailed information about the most common barriers and gather specific needs. The main barriers found were access to capital and marketing infrastructure.

Keywords

local food; barriers; arkansas; horticulture; local; organic

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