As the food system has become more streamlined, the ability to handle smaller units of product from local producers has become more difficult. “We need to look at ways to collaborate and to create new ways to make local food more accessible, with systems that can successfully manage its network of relationships,” says Sharon Faye, market analyst, Alberta Agriculture, Edmonton.
“To improve access to local food options, there is a need to create greater awareness of what products are locally available, which buyers are looking for local products, and obtain greater efficiencies in moving products to the markets. Networking and sharing information among producers, logistics companies and buyers of local products is necessary to find better ways to collaborate, aggregate product orders, streamline delivery, and find solutions,” says Kathy Bosse, new venture specialist, Alberta Agriculture, Red Deer.
As a follow-up to the central Alberta pilot study, further work is being done to provide a better understanding of the issues among the stakeholder groups and to identify more efficient ways to get local products to various markets.
The full report and summary information on local food distribution practices can be found by entering “distribution of local food” in the search field at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/
Contacts:
Sharon Faye 780-422-5326
Kathy Bosse 403-755-6116
