Local food has been the subject of federal, state, and local government policies in recent years throughout the United States as consumer demand has grown. Local foods have been linked to several government priorities-including enhancing the rural economy, the environment, and supporting agricultural producers. This article provides an overview of U.S. Federal, State and regional policies designed to support local food systems. It details the latest economic information on policy, relying on findings from several national surveys and a synthesis of recent literature. Federal policies related to local food systems were greatly expanded by the 2008 Farm Bill, and are further expanded in the Agricultural Act of 2014. United States policies address several barriers to the further expansion of local food markets, including scaling up output of small farms to address the needs of larger commercial outlets, lack of infrastructure for increasing local food sales, ability to trace product source, and producer education regarding local food expansion.

The application of an optimal dynamic hedging model was explored for a county in North Carolina. Com yield, harvest com basis, and December com futures prices were forecast. The forecasts were used to calculate optimal dynamic hedge positions. When the hedge position was updated infrequently, commissions were only slightly higher than commissions from a fixed hedge. Gains from updating the hedge position over the com growing season were not substantial compared to a fixed hedge position.

Purpose -This paper aims to provide an assessment of the growth in marketing contracts in the US pork industry as an efficient means to control pork quality and reduce transaction costs. Design/methodology/approach -Information collected from pork quality and safety summits sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council in cooperation with the National Pork Board, published surveys of large packers related to contract use, and 15 contracts submitted by producers to the Iowa Attorney General's Office from 1996 to 2001 were examined. The theoretical framework used combines branches of the industrial organization literature.Findings -The paper provides information documenting the growing importance of addressing pork quality problems in the 1990s and how marketing contracts between packers and producers can help address these problems. Recognizes their role in reducing transaction costs associated with carcass pricing programs, reducing pork quality measuring costs, providing quality control, and reducing costs of adapting to quality uncertainty.Research limitations/implications -The list of contracts examined is a small collection of contracts voluntarily submitted by producers, and pertains to a specific geographic section of the USA. Thus, they may not be representative of the entire industry. Practical implications -The paper provides background information on quality issues faced by the US pork industry and a framework for better understanding the potential role of marketing contracts in addressing these issues. Originality/value -This paper provides rather unique institutional background information on important changes occurring in the US pork industry in the 1990s and the role of the growth in marketing contracts in addressing related pork quality issues over time. Given the proprietary nature of specific contract terms, a small sample of long-term marketing contracts is analyzed to better understand contract design.

<p>This study uses Nielsen Homescan panel data to compare average prices of fresh apples and tomatoes purchased at direct-to-consumer outlets (e.g., farmers’ markets) with prices at grocery stores and supercenters in the Mid-Atlantic region. Compared to grocery stores, prices at direct sales outlets are estimated to be lower, on average, for both tomatoes and apples. Tomato prices at direct sales outlets were also less than supercenter prices in all seasons and subregions. Apple prices paid by consumers at direct sales outlets were comparable to prices paid at supercenters, except for the Maryland/Delaware/New Jersey subregion, where direct sales outlet prices were markedly lower. <em></em></p>