@article{305789cf6b494e31b295825d4b1ac087,
title = "Effects of scale economies and production seasonality on optimal hub locations: the case of regional fresh produce aggregation",
abstract = "Interest in supporting local and regional food systems is rising and food hubs have attracted considerable attention among Federal, State, and local policymakers. This study explores the problem of endogenous hub location in fresh produce value chains in the Northeastern United States. To overcome limitations in the literature, we incorporate the effects of economies of scale and production seasonality into our models. Three experimental models are designed to examine the effects of alternatively applying yearly, quarterly, and monthly data on model solutions. We explicitly assess how interactions of scale economies and seasonality influence the structure and spatial attributes of an optimal regional produce aggregation hub system. The three models generate marketed different solutions and in many respects they lead to different conclusions about developing local/regional supply chains. The monthly model allows for production seasonality and actual hub operation cycle frequency and thus leads to more efficient hub solution with rich policy implications.",
author = "Houtian Ge and Patrick Canning and Stephan Goetz and Agnes Perez",
note = "Funding Information: This research was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Partial funding under USDA NIFA grant no. 2011-68004-30057 and under a cooperative agreement with Economic Research Service (ERS) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors want to thank the Editor for his input into this article. Insightful comments from two anonymous referees were also very much appreciated. Funding Information: This research was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Partial funding under USDA NIFA grant no. 2011-68004-30057 and under a cooperative agreement with Economic Research Service (ERS) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors want to thank the Editor for his input into this article. Insightful comments from two anonymous referees were also very much appreciated. The views presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the Economic Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [Correction added on 17 January 2018, after first online publication: Article disclaimer was added] Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 International Association of Agricultural Economists",
year = "2018",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1111/agec.12405",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "49",
pages = "157--169",
journal = "Agricultural Economics (United Kingdom)",
issn = "0169-5150",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
number = "2",
}