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Agriculture

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Walden University

2016

Knowledge

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Sustainability Strategies For Value-Added Agricultural Producers In California's San Joaquin Valley, Sharon L. Starcher Jan 2016

Sustainability Strategies For Value-Added Agricultural Producers In California's San Joaquin Valley, Sharon L. Starcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Economic and climate changes, combined with changing government regulations, are altering the strategic business model for small farm operators and necessitating their reliance on multiple income sources to maintain financial viability. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies of 3 small farming businesses in California's San Joaquin Valley that successfully implemented value-added products which contributed to their financial sustainability. Data from semistructured interviews and relevant documents were analyzed through the lens of system theory, utilizing in vivo coding to identify patterns and themes. Three high-level themes emerged: knowledge, marketing, and networking. The theme of knowledge …