Introduction: Hospitals, schools, and other institutions in the U. S. collectively spend over 200 billion on food each year (Campbell, 2023). While many have adopted commitments to local and/or sustainable sourcing, institutional procurement processes are typically structured around cost containment, risk mitigation, and high-volume distribution. As a result, small- and mid-sized farms, food hubs, cooperatives, and other regional suppliers may face barriers participating in and benefiting from this economic activity, even when buyers express interest in their products. Value chain coordination (VCC) can help these suppliers navigate the layered contracts, compliance requirements, and volume-based incentives that govern institutional purchasing by facilitating communication, aligning expectations, and supporting negotiated solutions.
Hall et al. (2026) studied this question.