Farm-to-School Programs in Portuguese Low-Density Rural Areas: How to Engage Farmers

Abstract

Farm to School (FTS) programs is a type of Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) that generate new economic opportunities for farmers while enhancing communities’ food security strategies, by improving the access to a safe, nutritious, and culturally acceptable diet, through a sustainable food system that maximizes self-reliance and social justice. However, the success of FTS is highly dependent on regional characteristics, and its implementation must deal with diverse views and opposing interests. In particular, farmers' willingness to engage in FTS may be affected by the need to adapt their practices to the demand of school canteens. The estimate of a logistic model is used in this study to analyse the factors that impact farmers' motivation to participate in FTS in low-density areas of Portugal, showing that market-oriented vegetable and fruit producers, living further away from the city are more likely to join FTS.