Although our interdependent and concentrated food system is perceived as impenetrable, there are practical solutions that can be implemented to improve access, food quality, and the widespread distribution of good food. Therefore, in order to address the question which most concerned this assessment—how large institutional clients could more readily access locally grown foods through wholesale outlets—The Center for Food and Justice (CFJ) examined the perceived and real barriers that are preventing farmers and distribution or produce firms from participating in scaled up distribution efforts.

This evaluation also included the perceived and real opportunities for farmers and produce firms to participate in innovative distribution solutions based on regional resources. Because Southern California is such a large region, CFJ looked at four separate regions and found that not all regions had the necessary infrastructure and resources to scale up the distribution of local foods through the use of traditional or largescale distribution channels.