This publication provides a small glimpse of current trends, emerging issues and potential roles of the public sector in the organic agriculture sector.

There are a number of competitive strategic positions emerging in the food manufacturing sector. Consumer trends and new competitive factors have resulted in a bimodal structure in a number of food and beverage subsectors, several of which are presented as case studies here. Such restructuring may provide market access and economic development opportunities.

The entry of additional food hubs in a county may cannibalize sales of incumbent enterprises. Food hubs require more potential buyers in a market than traditional merchant wholesalers. Counties with a high level of social capital and that have small local food businesses may be able to lower the population threshold necessary for a food hub to be viable.

Colorado Department of Agriculture identified the need to better understand how: a) the citizens of Colorado viewed the agricultural industry as a whole; b) the public perceives emerging policies meant to support or influence the role of agriculture in Colorado; and c) and how the Department's own programs were valued.