Sectors of the Food System

Jars of honey. Photo by Russell Shaffer
Farmer in straw hat harvesting red peppers in a green vegetable field under sunny skies.

Production

WHERE FOOD COMES FROM

From large-scale ranching to backyard gardens, production is the science and art of cultivating land, growing crops, raising livestock, hunting, fishing, and foraging.

Worker in lab coat adds green liquid to industrial mixing tank in factory setting.

Processing

RAISE IT UP AND WRAP IT UP

Cutting meat, baking breads, freezing or canning fruits and vegetables—processing turns raw ingredients into products that are more valuable and useful to customers.

Man using a laptop at a wooden table in a home setting.

Marketing & Distribution

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

Collaborate with NERFSI, producers and distributors to find new venues to sell through, like Nebraska MarketMaker, farm-to-institution programs, and direct-to-consumer outlets.

Two people browsing snack aisles in a well-lit convenience store.

Consumption & Food Access

FARM TO TABLE

Consumption and food access is about people getting the food they need in a way that is accessible, safe, affordable, and respectful of their culture.

Person crouching in a garden, planting near tall green corn plants, with a trowel on the soil.

Resource Management

THE RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

Resource management is about using community and business resources like land, water, soil, plants, food, and created materials wisely, efficiently, and conservatively.