The term food system is used frequently in discussions about nutrition, food, health, community, economic development and agriculture. A food system includes all processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population: growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consumption, distribution and disposal of food and food-related items. It also includes the inputs needed and outputs generated at each of these steps. A food system operates within and is influenced by social, political, economic, and environmental contexts. It also requires human resources that provide labor, research and education. Food systems are either conventional or alternative according to their model of food lifespan from origin to plate.
Scales
Worldwide - we talk about the "global food system" or a subset like "global fisheries", etc.
National - we talk about the "American food system"
Regional - when we talk about "Regional Food Systems" the size may vary. Northeast Indiana? Indiana? The Midwest?
Local - when we talk about "Local Food Systems" this indicates a very small area but remains ambiguous. Oftentimes the definition includes a close connection between producers & consumers and a focus on keeping money circulating locally.
Types
Conventional - characterized by economies of scale, emphasis on efficiency and vertical integration, highly specialized and depends on industrial agriculture
Alternative - by definition just any other food systems not based on those above - *note these are unfortunate characterizations because all food systems can incorporate things like vertical integration, etc.
Community-Based - used to emphasize type regardless of scale. The term community-based is often used instead of local where there is a desire due to a need to emphasize a larger spatial region while still connecting food production with economic and community development. Ideally, community-based, sustainable food systems are food systems in which everyone has financial and physical access to culturally appropriate, affordable, nutritious food that was grown without degrading the natural environment, and in which the general population understands nutrition and the food system in general. Focus is on enhancing the environmental, economic, and social/nutritional health of a particular place.
Cooperative - can have either producer co-ops or consumer co-ops. Examples include Organic Valley, Maple City Market, CSAs, and more...
Organic - a commonly-encountered system that is often-times now simply a parrallel to conventional systems except it is regulated by a set of specific guidelines
Local - often confused with Community-Based - see above
Fair Trade - an attempt for the producer to keep a larger percentage of the retail price. Often used in international trade for high value luxuries like chocolate and coffee
Sustainable Food System - incorporates many aspects of alternative food systems; Sustainable food systems start with the development of sustainable agricultural practices, development of more sustainable food distribution systems, creation of sustainable diets and reduction of food waste throughout the system
Corporate Grocery Store and Conventional Food System
Farmers Markets
Farm to Table Restaurants
Direct to Consumer
Herd Share
Co-ops
Others???