Regional economies of local food production: Tracing food chain links between 'specialist' producers and intermediaries in the Scottish-English borders

There is currently strong political desire at both European and national scales to 'relocalize' food production and supply. While advocacy remains high, few studies have interrogated the form of these 'new' food chains. This article provides an analysis of such chains in the Scottish-English borders. It traces supply links between small-scale 'specialist' food producers and associated intermediaries for three product sectors. Linking the two stages of the food chain together, the analysis shows differences within and between, as well as similarities across, sectors in terms of spatial and economic organization. It also reveals the 'hybrid' nature of specialist food chains in the region; local producers have created their own 'niche spaces' within the food system. The article thus contributes to debates on new agro-food geographies and regional economic geography and argues that local (specialist) small-scale enterprises do not usually establish food chains which are 'independent' of the wider food supply system. © 2006 SAGE Publications