Conventional Consumer Cooperatives and Local Foods: A Case Study from Cape Breton, Canada

17 Pages Posted: 15 Aug 2015

See all articles by Alicia Lake

Alicia Lake

Cape Breton Food Hub

Catherine Leviten-Reid

Cape Breton University

Date Written: August 13, 2015

Abstract

This paper examines cooperation and community development in the food sector. It explores how conventional consumer cooperatives located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada support local producers as well as the role of their second-tier cooperative in hindering and facilitating this work. Fifteen interviews were conducted with managers and directors representing ten stores. Findings show that while there is interest on the part of these cooperatives in carrying local foods, they experience store and supply-level barriers in doing so. Additionally, some federation practices constrain the ability of the retails to carry Cape Breton products. Both stores and the federation, however, share a common understanding of the role they play in community development and alternative food systems.

Keywords: Local food, food systems, cooperatives, federations, Canada

JEL Classification: L81; Q13; R11

Suggested Citation

Lake, Alicia and Leviten-Reid, Catherine, Conventional Consumer Cooperatives and Local Foods: A Case Study from Cape Breton, Canada (August 13, 2015). Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2015): 11-27, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2639140

Alicia Lake (Contact Author)

Cape Breton Food Hub ( email )

http://cblocalfood.ca/
Cape Breton Island
Canada

Catherine Leviten-Reid

Cape Breton University ( email )

P.O.Box 5300, 1250 Grand Lake Road
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2
Canada

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