Developing Mid-Tier Supply Chains (France) and Values-Based Food Supply Chains (USA): A Comparison of Motivations, Achievements, Barriers and Limitations

Abstract

Mid-tier supply chains/values-based food supply chains have emerged, in both France and the United States, as viable alternatives for small and mid-sized farms that had previously struggled. These supply chains deliver more products to a larger region than short supply chains such as farm-direct markets and are distinguished from the dominant long supply chains by (1) products that are differentiated from the mainstream based on superior quality, environmental stewardship and social responsibility; and (2) the characteristics of the strategic relationships that link the supply chain participants. On the demand side, regional supermarkets, restaurants, public and private institutional buyers, and individual consumers have demonstrated their eagerness to seek out and pay premiums for these types of high-quality food products that are delivered via trusted and transparent supply chains and characterized by their authentic farming stories. The set of case studies presented in this paper (three from each country) will highlight both the parallels and differences in the development of these innovative supply chains between two countries with quite dissimilar agricultural and food sector traditions and policies.

From Short Food Supply Chains to Sustainable Agriculture in Urban Food Systems: Food Democracy as a Vector of Transition

“…However, as already highlighted by recent works on the 'agriculture of the middle' [7][8][9], a larger reality can be observed in these networks. This is particularly true in France where direct selling has been a traditional system of distribution, and where 'short food chains' have been officially defined and are supported by recent public policies.…”

Sustainable Agri-Food Economies: Re-Territorialising Farming Practices, Markets, Supply Chains, and Policies

“…These two approaches move away from the conventional agri-food system but are also different from AFNs. Differently from AFN theory and movements, the "values-based food supply chains" (VBFSCs) in the USA and "mid-tier supply chains" (MTSCs) in France shift from short food supply chains to more complex food chains, including more intermediaries in between producers and consumers and delivering products to extended distances [19,20], whereas the "nested markets" (NMs) approach focuses on the shift from the community-building perspective to a market-building perspective [9].…”

Co-Operation among Irish Beef Farmers: Current Perspectives and Future Prospects in the Context of New Producer Organisation (PO) Legislation

“…There is a direct association between POs and the pursuit of high valued-added markets. PO legislation provides specifically for products differentiated according to PGI, for instance 6 VBSC's are characterised by commitments and contractual arrangements between chain actors, supporting fair distribution of profits, and business agreements of appropriate extended duration (Stevenson et al, 2011;Fleury et al, 2016). Furthermore, VBSCs produce differentiated, premium products which embody social, cultureal and economic values and, typcially, credence attributes such as organic, high animal welfare or hormone-free.…”