Local food for local people? Producing food for local and national organic markets in England and Wales

Abstract

Organic agriculture has a totemic role in debates about farming. Domestic organic production is thought to play a role in relocalised food networks. However, little is known about the market orientation of organic producers in England and Wales. Drawing on a mixed methods approach this paper characterises national, regional and local markets for organic food from a supply perspective. It identifies local, regional and national market orientation and considers the concentration of marketing channels using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index. The analysis demonstrates the heterogeneity of the sector and an uneven geography of organic marketing in England and Wales.