Economic Drivers of Food Loss at the Farm and Pre-Retail Sectors: A Look at the Produce Supply Chain in the United States

by Travis Minor, Gregory Astill, Sharon Raszap Skorbiansky, Suzanne Thornsbury, Jean C. Buzby, Claudia Hitaj, Linda Kantor, Fred Kuchler, Brenna Ellison, Ashok K. Mishra, Brian Roe, and Timothy J. Richards

This study provides an overview of the drivers of food loss on the farm and other pre-retail sectors, with a focus on economic incentives that underlie the way fresh foods are grown, processed, and marketed in the United States. The study focuses on the produce sector because fruits and vegetables are highly perishable and important to diet quality.

Keywords: food loss, food waste, fruit, vegetable, farm income, produce

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