Emerging Issues in Food Marketing and Distribution in the Northeast

Abstract

Food marketing and distribution encompasses a vast array of economic and regulatory activity. In the most recent product of NC-117, the authors argue that: “The food manufacturing and distribution industries are the primary orchestrators of the food system. Not only do these industries perform essential tasks themselves, but they also have significant influence over the rest of the food system: backward on agricultural production and forward on consumers.” (Marion, p. 432) It is tempting to draw a more complete path diagram with which to emphasize ways in which consumers, farmers and other entities, including regulators, influence and are influenced by these “primary orchestrators”. I will, however, follow the lead of the NC-117 committee and concentrate on these “primary orchestrators” in the Northeast.