REQUEST:marketing barriers to sus ag production

BARBARA MEISTER (MEISTER@ksg1.harvard.edu)
Thu, 31 Mar 1994 16:15:05 EST

I am wrapping up a research project and have this nagging feeling
I might have missed some good sources in the process. I've been
trying to identify the barriers to marketing of organics, new crops
produced as a result of a switch from monocropping to sustainable
agriculture and "alternative crops" in general.
I have found documentation of efforts to find out what it takes
for farmers and farm-based entrepreneurs to diversify their income
sources through alternative crops, direct marketing, cooperative
marketing, value-added processing, etc. This work has been done
mostly by foundations and non- profit organizations. Are there any
academic efforts to address these issues? Or has USDA researched
marketing barriers to sustainable agriculture/organic/diversified
farmers? MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE! -- Barbara Meister, Kennedy
School of Government 31 B Shaler Lane Cambridge, MA 02138
meister@ksg1.harvard.edu