An exploratory study of collaboration among farmers and farmers' market managers in Southeast Michigan

This exploratory study investigated motivations of farmers and farmers' market managers (FM MNGR) in Southeast Michigan to collaborate. Study methods included a survey with open-ended questions in the form of a questionnaire. The motivation of farmers and FM MNGRs was examined through the lens of social exchange theory and expectancy theory by measuring expectancy and valence. The study invited 90 farmers' market managers and 147 farmers to participate, with a 38% (n = 34) response rate for managers and a 26% (n = 38) response rate for farmers. Both farmers and farmers' market managers had relatively high mean scores of expectancy and valence, with FM MNGRs expectancy mean slightly higher than FM MNGRs, and farmer valence mean slightly higher than FM MNGRs valence. Both groups of participants had high interest in local food movements, but managers viewed collaboration as more important to local food movements than farmers did. Additional findings suggest strategic approaches on how to engage and communicate with other potential food system stakeholders to facilitate collaboration. These findings are most applicable to Southeast Michigan local food system practitioners, food system researchers (applied and theoretical), and local government planning and policy officials.