Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

Understanding demand for agriculturally integrated neighborhoods:

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Agrihoods are residential communities intentionally designed around agriculture and green space to foster connections with food, nature, and neighbors. Despite their growing popularity, little is known about who is drawn to these developments or the amenities they value. This study examined the characteristics, health behaviors, and housing priorities of prospective agrihood homebuyers. From March to July 2024, adults interested in purchasing a home in a Fort Bend County, Texas, agrihood (N = 128) completed an online survey distributed through the developer’s marketing channels. Measures included sociodemographics, health behaviors (time spent in nature, amount of sleep, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption), housing priorities, and willingness to pay more or extend commutes for specific amenities. Respondents were predominantly female, racially and ethnically diverse, middle-income, and highly educated. Although many respondents reported health behaviors below national recommendations, they expressed interest in health-promoting amenities. Affordability, school quality, and proximity to important places and people emerged as key housing priorities, while most respondents indicated they would be willing to pay more or extend their commutes to gain access to opportunities for physical activity, nature, fresh produce, social spaces, and agricultural features. These findings suggest that agrihoods may not only attract individuals already engaged in healthy lifestyles but also those who view these environments as potential catalysts for positive behavior change. As such, agrihoods may represent a promising setting for embedding preventive health promotion into residential development. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether relocation to an agrihood translates into measurable improvements in health outcomes.

“Rabbit farming is easy”: Perspectives from rabbit farmers in Kabale, Uganda

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In 2012, Kigezi Healthcare Foundation (KIHEFO) in southwest Uganda launched the Rabbit Farming Project to empower families and communities to overcome poverty and improve nutrition through small-scale rabbit farming. This qualitative study describes participant perspectives of rabbit farming and the Rabbit Farming Project in Kabale, Uganda. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 rabbit farmers. Themes that emerged included the ease of rabbit farming; nutrition, income, and agricultural benefits; housing and animal health and safety barriers; the commercial impact of COVID-19; KIHEFO support; and infrastructure, resources, and guidance recommendations. Rabbit farming was central to survival and participants described the ease of rabbit farming as a key factor even while not all were aware of the role of KIHEFO in facilitating regional rabbit farming. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected commercial farmers, while subsistence farmers thrived. We found that rabbit farming provides local and sustainable income-generation and nutritional benefits, but it requires resources to build community capacity. Evidence from this research can be applied to similar communities across the globe to promote food security, poverty relief, and empowerment for vulnerable communities through rabbit farming.

What is the role of national policies in fostering local food supply chains?

Chyi-Lyi Liang, Timothy Mulrooney — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

First paragraphs:

National Policies and Programs Supporting Local Foods

As defined in the 2008 farm bill, local foods are those that are transported less than 400 miles from their origins or only within the state in which they are produced (Martinez et al., 2010). However, different states use other definitions of local foods. For example, state organizations, like the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and North Carolina Cooperative Extension, recognize local foods as food grown, caught, or raised in North Carolina (Favre, 2022). Both producers and consumers generally consider the definition of local foods to be “locally grown and sourced” products, with an appreciation for local farmers and their commitment to stimulating economic activity and development.

The initial concept of local foods can be traced back to neighborhood activities or county-level connections that allowed growers to connect with residents. Many of us who grew up in rural areas (where modern supermarkets were not as popular) share personal experiences or memories of going to local markets and being fascinated by the dynamic interactions between sellers and buyers. Over time, this type of localized exchange has evolved and expanded into more formal market settings, such as farmers' markets, roadside stands, food hubs, and restaurants showcasing specialty products sourced locally. Martinez (2016) provided a comprehensive review of policies that contribute to the local food movement in the U.S., thus strengthening the relationship between growers and consumers grounded in rural communities. Some of the obstacles to growing local food programs and initiatives have been discussed by researchers including production limitations (e.g., geographical location and landscape, soil, and climate variations), distribution limitations (e.g., demand versus supply matching, market regulations, and food safety compliance), traceability issues between vendors, suppliers, and buyers, and timely responses to unforeseen challenges (e.g., economic and environmental shocks create gaps for labor and market channel operations) (Martinez, 2016). . . .

Understanding caregiver perspectives to improve food security screening in healthcare settings

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Healthcare institutions are increasingly engaged in efforts to screen patients for food insecurity and connect households to supportive resources, often in direct collaboration with community development practitioners and aligned with Food Is Medicine initiatives. Evidence of the effectiveness of these efforts, however, is limited. Drawing on data from six focus groups with a total of 42 participants, conducted in both English and Spanish, this study explores how low-income parental caregivers experience and understand food security screenings within healthcare settings. From there, it identifies communication barriers and opportunities for improvement. The analysis was guided by communication infrastructure theory (CIT), a framework for understanding how a community’s “storytelling network,” consisting of local residents, organizations, and media, can be harnessed for health promotion. Findings revealed a complex mix of trust and skepticism. While some caregivers appreciated efforts to connect families with resources, many expressed concern and fear related to stigma, privacy breaches, and potential intervention by child protective services. Spanish-speaking participants also highlighted linguistic barriers that increased frustration with the process. Participants recommended that screening processes prioritize choice and provide follow-through with tangible resource connections, ideally facilitated through trusted community intermediaries. Applying CIT, our analysis suggests that healthcare institutions can strengthen food security outreach by building relationships with familiar individuals and organizations in the community’s storytelling network. Doing so requires fostering trust through transparent, empathetic engagement. Overall, the findings demonstrate an important role for practitioners in food systems and community development to develop community-based communication strategies with healthcare institutions. This study both advances theory and offers actionable guidance to make food security screening more equitable, effective, and responsive to caregivers’ lived realities.

Impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rules, exemptions, and behavioral insights among small-scale produce growers

Elma Kontor-Manu, Maria I. Marshall, Renee Wiatt, Yaohua Feng — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) sets a regulatory framework to promote the production of safe produce, the exemption criteria it provides exclude many very small and small-scale farms from full compliance. Regardless of exemptions, food safety remains a shared priority across the food system. For qualifying farms, exemption status provides some benefits but can also introduce limitations which farms might need to navigate. To examine the cognitive components that shape the food safety decision-making processes of FSMA-exempt produce growers, the theory of planned behavior (TPB) was adapted as a framework in this study. Growers’ beliefs and perceptions that influenced their intent to implement safe practices were investigated. Growers’ responses to the benefits and limitations of the exemptions from the FSMA Produce Safety Rule were also explored as part of the cognitive analysis. Through a series of focus group discussions, information was collected from thirty Indiana FSMA-exempt produce growers. Study participants expressed deep commitment to providing safe food to their consumers. It was determined that the importance of their own personal values and relationships within the food system contributed to decisions that affect their customers. A recurring theme was the trade-off between the reduced regulatory burden of the PSR and the increased liability risks in the absence of regulatory safeguards. Findings also highlighted the intersection of perceived benefits and limitations, regulatory expectations, and how availability of resources collectively shapes approaches to food safety. The findings underscore the unique situation of FSMA-exempt produce growers and the importance of tailoring food safety outreach programs that offer support based on practical, trust-based approaches.

Four points to reframe the debate on public supermarkets in New York City

Valerie Imbruce — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

First paragraphs:

Introduction: New York City’s food retail landscape is dominated by small-scale retailers that make neighborhoods unique and culturally tailored. I once counted 88 produce vendors and grocers within four blocks of Manhattan’s Chinatown, a shopping artery that serves an East Asian panoply of specialty foods. Whereas supermarkets are the dominant destination for grocery shopping around the county, for the 1,000 supermarkets scattered around New York City (NYC), there are 25,000 independent stores, thousands of mobile produce vendors, and nearly 140 farmers markets (Sowder, 2022). The food and beverage sector is a major engine of employment, providing one in four jobs (New York State Comptroller, 2020).

There has been rapid growth in national supermarket franchises opening across the city, and now NYC Mayor Mamdani’s administration is advancing plans to establish five publicly owned supermarkets in response to rising food insecurity and food costs. This plan is narrowly focused on large-scale retail solutions to improve underutilized, city-owned property. But this strategy should be more holistic; it should include small, culturally embedded food businesses and community organizations that already contribute to food access, affordability, and resilience, but need more support. NYC’s diverse retail food economy, emerging food council initiatives, and Manhattan’s Chinatown offer evidence that resilient food systems are built through decentralized social, economic, and supply-chain relationships embedded in place. . . .

Farmers market manager networks for sustainability, support, and innovation

Kristin Krokowski — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In most states, farmers markets function independently of each other and subsist on modest budgets. The groups and programs that bring independent farmers market managers together for education, collaboration, and sharing are often funded through government programs and grants. With increasing uncertainty of grant funding and government programs, alternative low-cost ways to sustain markets, mentor managers, and foster innovation in local food systems are needed. Business networks and clusters have been successful in other industries. To evaluate the potential of this type of network in mentoring, knowledge sharing, and facilitating collective fund development among farmers market managers, a study was conducted in three regions of Wisconsin. The study included the creation of regional network groups that collaborated on a market promotion project for the benefit of all network markets, utilizing a decision-making tool, the Purpose, Assessment, Tactics, Implementation (PATI) Framework. Overall, these networks were successful. Managers valued belonging to the network, successfully collaborated on regional projects, and intended to continue with the network once the study concluded.

The pastoral arrangement

Katie M. Mason — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

First paragraph:

In Hoofprints on the Land, Ilse Köhler-Rollefson presents a persuasive and carefully researched argument that traditional pastoral herders are among the most important stewards of the world’s ecologically significant landscapes. She demonstrates how pastoralists maintain seasonal grazing rhythms that have developed through generations of close observation and adaptation. At a time when scientific and policy discussions often focus on technology, efficiency, and optimization, this book encourages readers to consider a different mindset. Köhler-Rollefson argues that traditional pastoral practices do not conflict with sustainability and can instead support locally grounded, ecologically sound livestock systems. . . .

Food production and the limits of sustainability

Obed Boitshepo Masege — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

First paragraph:

Michael Grunwald’s book We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate delves into the ugly world of food production and its detrimental impact on the environment. The book explores the different technologies that have been invented to address the problems caused by the need to produce more food. Grunwald follows the life and the research of a former environmental lawyer, Tim Searchinger. It is through the extensive work of Searchinger that Grunwald was compelled to pen this book. Some of the key themes that stem from this reading are the ethicality of science in pushing certain ideas as being environmentally friendly, as well as the clash between experts and environmental advocates and land usage and food production challenges. The reading makes one aware that land use challenges may be far-reaching, in the sense that demand in one area may create land exploitation in a place far from where the demand is. . . .

Strengthening institutional capacity for fresh food safety governance

Dhany Hermansyah, Machfud, Muhammad Romli, Muslich — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Institutional capacity is a critical factor in ensuring safe and sustainable local food systems, particularly for fresh foods that are highly perishable and often traded through traditional markets. As an agrarian country and one of the world’s major food producers, Indonesia manages a wide range of fresh, plant-based food commodities that require effective food safety oversight. In this context, strengthening fresh food safety governance supports local producers by promoting safer production standards and practices, while reinforcing traditional markets as trusted channels for fresh food distribution. It also contributes to regional food system resilience by ensuring the availability of fresh foods that are safe in both quantity and quality. Within Indonesia’s decentralized governance structure, Regional Food Safety Competent Authorities (RFSCA) serve as key institutional actors responsible for safeguarding the safety of fresh foods at the subnational level. As of 2025, a total of 34 provincial food affairs agencies have been formally verified as RFSCA. However, the institutional performance of around 60% of these authorities remains uneven and, in several cases, suboptimal. This study examines the institutional drivers influencing RFSCA performance and develops strategies to strengthen their operational capacity using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and Best–Worst Method (BWM). Data was collected from 34 provinces through structured surveys and expert assessments. The findings indicate that adequate budget allocation and standardized institutional mandates function as fundamental drivers of institutional performance. Approximately 80% of RFSCA operate with insufficient budgetary support, while core functions such as monitoring, evaluation, and capacity-building activities are largely dependent on these foundational institutional conditions. The proposed framework offers actionable guidance for regional authorities and policymakers to enhance coordination, accountability, and resilience in fresh food safety governance—ultimately supporting safer and more resilient local food systems.