The role of local food in restaurants
This study examines the perceptions, motivations, and constraints of Vancouver restaurant and chef purchase and promotion of local foods. Data collection involves mail surveys and interviews. Attitudes toward local food product purchases are positive with 91% of respondents involved in local food purchase. Findings showed differences in local food adoption between farmers' markets, farmers and wholesalers. Common barriers for local food adoption from farmers' markets and farmers included time commitments, staff availability to visit market, insufficient volumes, cost, and limited product range. Fresher products and supporting the local economy are the major respondent motivations for local food adoption from farmers' markets.
Abstract The realities of today's business environment require that foreign markets be sought systematically and continuously. But most reference literature on the subject ignores the approaches that companies have developed to assess their export market opportunities. This article offers practical guidelines based on in-depth interviews with executives of 70 Midwestern exporting companies.