Food Production for the City: Hybridization of Farmers’ Strategies between Alternative and Conventional Food Chains

Alternative and local food supply chains (ALFSCs) have been indicated as drivers of territorial development through increasing the food security at local scale. The aim of the study is to characterize strategies that periurban farmers adopt to contribute to local food provision through ALFSCs. We surveyed a sample of 55 farmers in the urban region of Pisa, Tuscany (Italy). By combining qualitative and quantitative analysis of on-farm surveys, this study characterized three farmers’ strategies, depending on the percentage of production they allotted to local markets: few/passive, intermediate/opportunistic, entire/active. The main factors influencing each strategy were personal and professional bonds, diversification of the commercial network, and the number and the diversification of products sold in ALFSCs. Even though farmers can allocate 100% of their production to ALFSCs, most farmers combine ALFSCs with conventional food chains, suggesting that hybridization has advantages for the sustainability of these farms. Farmers who adopt an opportunistic strategy appeared more dynamic and adaptable to local opportunities and constraints. This analysis will offer empirical evidence about the participation of farmers in ALFSCs and especially about the hybridization between conventional and alternative food chains, contributing to the characterization of the local supply of produce, with benefits for community food security.