RE-LOCALIZING HORTICULTURAL SUPPLY CHAINS IN LOWER MAINLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF MARKET BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES by ANTHONY JOSEPH BRUNETTI M.A., The University of Illinois, 1993 B.S., The University of West Florida, 1990 A.A.S., College of the Air Force, 1987 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Interdisciplinary Studies) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) FEBRUARY 2009 © Anthony Joseph Brunetti, 2009 ABSTRACT Most horticultural crop producers in the Metro Vancouver region and Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, find themselves unavoidably competing within globalized agriculture and food supply chain systems controlled by relatively few powerful corporate entities. This global competitive environment has meant that horticultural producers, especially relatively small-scale producers, experience difficulty maintaining economic viability. In addition to globalization, food-system vulnerabilities manifested by such issues as global climate change, land-use conflict in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), biosecurity concerns, and increasing energy costs are becoming ever more salient issues for local horticultural producers and buyers. In light of globalization and emerging system vulnerabilities, this thesis explored the possibility of re-localizing the Lower Mainland horticulture supply chain by asking two questions: First, how do B.C. Lower Mainland producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, and buyers in the City of Vancouver, perceive their current and potential capacity for local food sourcing and marketing relationships? Second, given that there are discernible benefits to re-localization of the horticultural supply chain, what recommendations can be made to inform public policy development that facilitates re-localization? Using a case-study approach, structured interviews were conducted with food-service providers, retailers and wholesalers within the City of Vancouver, as well as with fruit and vegetable producers in the FVRD and Metro Vancouver region. Each market participant’s sourcing and marketing relationships were explored to uncover barriers and opportunities for developing or enhancing their respective market channels and relationships. Lower Mainland, City of Vancouver and provincial policy considerations are suggested for overcoming experienced local market barriers. These considerations focus on the following: 1) establishing a sophisticated go-to-market approach; 2) establishing the infrastructure for a local/regional horticulture supply chain system that embeds the food economy ubiquitously in local market channels; 3) rebuilding and enhancing re-localized/regionalized horticultural value chains; 4) initiating responsive community and cooperative economic development around food production; 5) comprehensively planning regional/community food system integration. Organized around these considerations, re-localization policy development would embrace regional and local identity and food system integrity, effectively branding local/regional horticultural products and agriculture that beget market loyalty and preference. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................... iii GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 Characterization of Lower Mainland Agriculture............................................... 3 Fraser Valley Regional District ..................................................................... 5 Metro Vancouver............................................................................................ 6 Horticultural Production................................................................................ 6 B.C.’s Lower Mainland and its Agricultural Capacity ................................. 8 Characterization of BC/Lower Mainland Horticultural Supply Chains............. 8 Problem Definition ............................................................................................. 10 Research Questions........................................................................................... 14 Introduction to Research Methods ................................................................... 14 Scope of the Study and Geographical Delimitations ...................................... 15 Research Limitations......................................................................................... 16 Research Assumptions ..................................................................................... 17 Significance of the Study .................................................................................. 17 Summary............................................................................................................. 19 A Guide to This Thesis ...................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................... 21 Main Impediments to Horticultural Re-localization ......................................... 21 Globalization and Neo-Classical Economics............................................. 22 Agriculture Intensification .......................................................................... 25 Consolidation of the Agri-food Sectors ..................................................... 27 Emerging Food System Vulnerabilities ..................................................... 36 Re-localization as a Food System Alternative ................................................. 48 The ALR and a Potential Role for Localization.......................................... 49 Climate Change and a Potential Role for Localization ............................. 49 Peak Oil and a Potential Role for Localization .......................................... 51 Biosecurity and a Potential Role for Localization..................................... 52 The Prospect of Self Reliance in British Columbia................................... 53 Food System Sustainability ........................................................................ 55 The Need for Change in Farm Management .............................................. 58 iii Concept of Foodshed .................................................................................. 59 The Development of New Marketing Strategies ........................................ 61 Local Food Systems and Food Security.................................................... 63 Re-localization and the Local Economy .................................................... 67 Food Democracy.......................................................................................... 73 Summary............................................................................................................. 77 CHAPTER 3: A THEORETICAL AND INTERPRETIVE FRAMEWORK................ 79 The Foundations of Agroecology and Agricultural Industrialism.................. 80 An Interpretive Framework ......................................................................... 82 Considerations on Interpreting “local”...................................................... 84 Summary............................................................................................................. 87 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODS .................................................................. 89 Case-Study Methodology .................................................................................. 89 Other Case-Study Types.................................................................................... 90 Marketing Channels: Defining Buyers and Producers.................................... 91 Distinctions between Conventional and Alternative ....................................... 91 Case-Study Procedures..................................................................................... 92 Case-Study Interviews ....................................................................................... 93 Participant Selection Process........................................................................... 95 Wholesalers and Broker.............................................................................. 98 Institutional Food Service Providers.......................................................... 98 Producers ..................................................................................................... 98 Restaurants .................................................................................................. 99 Declined Interviews ................................................................................... 100 Others ......................................................................................................... 101 Nutrient Cycling ......................................................................................... 101 Data Analysis.................................................................................................... 102 Literature Review ............................................................................................