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Module Four

$4-2$ Discussion: Farm$-$to$-$Table and the Triple Bottom Line

$4-2$ Discussion: Farm$-$to$-$Table and the Triple Bottom Line

Listen

You are the chief operating officer $($COO$)$ of a local supermarket chain that has $10$ stores within an $100-$mile radius. The farm$-$to$-$table movement has been gaining momentum locally, and now it's a consumer demand as well as a good practice. This movement supports the use of local suppliers to limit the environmental impact caused by the long$-$distance transportation of food. It also supports small family farms that use sustainable practices, such as avoiding genetically modified organisms and pesticides or using organic fertilizers. The CEO of the supermarket chain has asked you to see if the supermarket can apply some of the farm$-$to$-$table principles to how it selects produce suppliers. Before moving too far in that direction, both you and the CEO agree that the inventory$-$management implications need to be understood.

Keep in mind that supermarket customers want a wide range of produce all year long$$even produce that does not grow locally during parts of the year. For example, oranges cannot survive very cold weather, but local customers expect to be able to buy them even during snowstorms in winter.