Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2010 The Influence of Collective Action and Policy in the Development of Local Food Systems Lori Porreca Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Porreca, Lori, "The Influence of Collective Action and Policy in the Development of Local Food Systems" (2010). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 713. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/713 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE INFLUENCE OF COLLECTIVE ACTION AND POLICY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS by Lori Porreca A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Sociology Approved: _______________________ _______________________ Dr. Douglas Jackson‐Smith Dr. Christy Glass Major Professor Committee Member ______________________ _______________________ Dr. John Allen Dr. Michael Toney Committee Member Committee Member ______________________ _______________________ Dr. Claudia Radel Dr. Byron Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2010 ii Copyright © Lori Porreca 2010 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT The Influence of Collective Action and Policy in the Development of Local Food Systems by Lori Porreca, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2010 Major Professor: Dr. Douglas Jackson‐Smith Department: Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology The modern global agrifood system has had significant negative impacts on consumers and producers. This has precipitated the rise of local food systems that are purported to improve the health and livelihoods of consumers and producers. High expectations have led to significant public and private resources dedicated to the development of local food systems. Despite this, there has been little systematic research exploring the social and institutional conditions that facilitate or frustrate local food system development. Using a comparative case study approach, this study explored the ways local structural conditions, collective action, food system policies, and the political context affect the development of local food systems. Findings suggested truly robust local food system development requires either collective action or public policies and are more iv likely to exist and be successful depending on the political climate and the balance of power between land use interests in the community. (306 pages) v CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................1 Growth of the Global Agrifood System ..................................................................1 Impacts on Farmers and Consumers .....................................................................3 Rise of Local Food Systems ..................................................................................... 4 Profile of Local Food Systems in the United States ...............................................7 Local Food Systems in the Rural‐Urban Interface ................................................13 National and Local Programs and Policies Promoting Local Food Systems .......................................................................16 Research Problem ................................................................................................ 19 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................21 The Sociology of Agriculture.................................................................................21 Rural Geography...................................................................................................38 Local Land Use and Agricultural Policy .................................................................44 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 50 METHODS .........................................................................................................................57 Research Design ...................................................................................................57 Background: the Agricultural Adaptation Project ................................................61 Comparative Case Studies ....................................................................................71 Case Characterization .......................................................................................... 71 vi CASE STUDY ANALYSIS .....................................................................................................79 Cache County, Utah.............................................................................................. 79 Kent County, Michigan .......................................................................................101 Frederick County, Maryland ...............................................................................120 Yamhill County, Oregon .....................................................................................141 Hall County, Georgia...........................................................................................157 CASE STUDY COMPARISONS ..........................................................................................172 Relative Development of Local Food Systems....................................................172 Impact of Structural Conditions on Local Food System Activity.........................179 Impact of Collective Action, Institutional Arrangements, and Political Landscape ..............................................................................194 DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................................212 Research Questions............................................................................................212 Implications for Existing Research Theory, and Practice....................................226 Limitations and Future Research........................................................................231 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................234 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................246 A. Key Informant Recruiting List .........................................................................247 B. Interview Protocol..........................................................................................250 C. Landowner Survey..........................................................................................268 Curriculum Vitae ............................................................................................................292 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Contributions of Different Sized Farms to Total U.S. Direct Farm Sales, 2007 .......................................................................12 2 Percent of Farms, Farmland and Farm Sales by RUI and AI Status, 2007 ...................................................................................15 3 Agricultural Trend Types, 1987‐1997 and 1997‐2007 ..........................................64 4 Agricultural Trends in RUI/AI communities, 1997‐2007 ......................................64 5 Interviewees by Positions/Occupation ............................................................... 67 6 Socioeconomic Profile of Cache County Residents .............................................82 7 Top Commodities by Sales and Number of Farms, Cache County........................84 8 Distribution of Farm Types by Number of Farms and Acres of Farmland...............................................................................85 9 Importance of Dairy and Beef Farming in Cache County, 2002 and 2007..........................................................................86 10 Percent of Farmers Using Adaptation Strategies, Cache County .......................................................................................................88 11 Extent of Farmer Participation in the Local Food System, Cache County ......................................................................................................93 12 Comparison Between LFS and Non‐LFS Farmers, Cache County ....................................................................................................100 13 Socioeconomic Profile of Kent County Residents .............................................103 14 Top Commodities by Sales and Number of Farms, Kent County........................................................................................................104 15 Distribution of Farm Types