Logistics of North Dakota State Local Food System: An Empirical Study to Measure Local Food Supply and Demand for Regional Food Hub Feasibility Study
Abstract
Because North Dakota (ND) is one of only four states that do not have a food hub, the purpose of the regional food hub feasibility study was to empirically evaluate whether the ND local food system needs a food hub from a supply and demand perspective. The 21st century has shifted American agriculture and rural life. The number of small and mid-sized farms decreases while the number of more significant farms increases. The food hubs concept has become an increasingly popular response to this agricultural problem. Food hubs cover the gap between farmers and markets and add value to the food supply chain infrastructure. The food hub concept is widely distributed among US states as a response to solving local food issues. Unfortunately, ND is one of the four states that do not have a food hub. Hence, this study's main exploratory research question was Does the ND food system need a regional food hub?
Furthermore, the author of this research found no comprehensive literature review concentrating solely on the local food system in ND. For that, a regional food hub feasibility study was conducted. The ND regional food hub feasibility was divided into two independent cross-sectional surveys. The ND food hub feasibility was divided part-A (the supply-side) and part-B (the demand-side). Each survey had 51 questions, including qualitative and quantitative factors. Investigating both sides of the ND local food system led to a better comprehension of the research area and provided a complete understanding of the ND food system. Both surveys were statistically analyzed descriptively and inferentially.
Our findings indicated that ND food producers and customers defined local food as all food produced or grown in ND. Additionally, we found that the regional ND food hub project was feasible. The ND regional food hub's suggested best model had a cooperative legal structure and a hybrid business structure that can work for-profit at both the state and national levels.