Healthy Communities Resources and Publications
Healthy Communities Resources and Publications
Local Food Systems Publications
The following publications were produced as part of a USDA-AMS sponsored project, Local and Regional Food Systems Response to COVID. These publications are part of a Food Consumer Insights Series reporting the results of a national survey of 5,000 households in fall 2020 and winter 2021. CEDIK Assistant Research Professor Jairus Rossi is one of the UKY researchers working on this project. Visit the project website to learn more.
Publication | Local Food Systems Response to COVID: Building Better Beyond
Author: Dr. Jairus Rossi | COVID-related restaurant closures have left farmers without important buyers and restaurant workers without employment. These new disruptions endangered not only the restaurant industry, but also the relationships between producers and restaurants. The Restaurant Reboot Relief Program (RRRP) was designed to help maintain and strengthen the relationships between independent restaurants and local farmers.
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Publication | Local Food Systems Response to COVID-19: Consumer Food Insights
Author: Dr. Jairus Rossi | This is a short data analysis from a national consumer survey related to COVID. Includes a discussion of new usage of local food market channels during COVID.
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Publication | Changes in Expenditures at Local Food Market Channels in Different Sized Communities
Author: Dr. Jairus Rossi | In this Consumer Food Insight (CFI), changes in local food expenditure in eight distinct market channels are evaluated by community size. These changes are compared at two distinct times: October 2020 and October 2021.
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Publication | Exploring Awareness and Promotional Linkages to New Market Channels
Authors: Libby Christensen (CSU), Dr. Jairus Rossi (UKY), Dr. Dawn Thilmany (CSU) | As public health restrictions began to ease across the country, many consumers returned to more mainstream sources of food (supermarkets, supercenters, and chain restaurants). At the same time, buying within Local and Regional Food Systems (LRFS) market channels (farmers market, direct from producer, artisan market, independent/local restaurant, and food boxes) also stayed relatively consistent or increased during this same time.
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Publication | Who is Buying Food from Local Market Channels for the First Time?
Author: Dr. Jairus Rossi | A survey of U.S. households in 2020, discussed in the Local Food System Consumer Food Insight (CFI) report, shows that approximately one-third of respondents purchased food from a local food business for the first time that year. Similar responses were observed in responses to the 2021 survey conducted as part of this project. Collectively, the survey results indicate that many consumers altered their shopping habits during the pandemic to include more local food markets.
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Publication | Local Food Perception Differences Between Residents in Differently-Sized Communities
Author: Dr. Jairus Rossi | Since 2020, COVID-19 has impacted individuals’ food purchasing decisions. Specifically, supply chain disruptions in conventional food outlets prompted consumers to seek alternative food market channels. However, consumer trends are expected to vary according to different contexts and experiences.
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