Farm stops: Understanding a new model for local food distribution

Farm stops are year-round markets that support primarily local farmers and strengthen community-based circular food systems (C-B CFSs). They operate on consignment: the farm stop gives the local producers they work with 70–80% of the retail price, while taking a small percentage to maintain operations. This gives producers a higher price for their goods and flexibility with their time and product offerings, and enhances community connections. The purpose of this research is to understand how farm stops contribute to devel­oping C-B CFSs through strengthening community connections and resilience, as C-B CFSs are local and regional food systems that emphasize a com­munity’s health and well-being while minimizing waste and protecting shared natural resources. This project surveyed the customer base of four U.S. farm stops to gauge their perceptions of farm stops’ overall support of a circular economy and of resilience within their communities. Results indi­cate that respondents believe that farm stops have a strong presence in the communities they serve, that they help individuals feel they are contributing to the development of C-B CFSs, and that they increase long-term community resilience by provid­ing reliable, year-round sales outlets for local pro­ducers. This paper also serves as an introduction to a guidebook on how to develop farm stops in any locale.