Advancing wholesale market access

Technical assistance to support Black, Hispanic, and Tribal producers

Abstract

This pilot study examines the technical assistance (TA) needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal agricul­tural producers seeking to access wholesale mar­kets, and the core competencies required of TA providers working to support these objectives. The study draws upon a literature review, a secondary analysis of TA programs across the U.S., and inter­views with 20 TA providers from the Southern, Southeastern, and Midwest/Great Lakes regions. It identifies key challenges that underserved produc­ers face in accessing wholesale markets, factors that determine the adoption of TA resources, and the challenges associated with program delivery by TA providers. To meet these objectives, the study uses reflexive thematic analysis and Latent Dirichlet Allocation. Findings show that regulatory complex­ity, limited capital, land tenure insecurity, infra­structural deficiencies, and information asymmetry were major barriers for producers in accessing wholesale markets. Skepticism about federal pro­gramming, navigating bureaucracy, operational challenges, and cultural factors were reported as barriers preventing producers from accessing avail­able TA. The overarching theme of structural dis­crimination and historical distrust of federal agen­cies further exacerbate these barriers, leading to exclusion from both market opportunities and TA resources. Further, limited capacity, insufficient funding, and cultural barriers affect the TA provid­ers’ ability to develop and provide tailored pro­gramming to support underserved producers and build long-term relationships. The providers identi­fied cultural competency, technical expertise, and communication skills as critical competencies in working with diverse producers. This research underscores the need for culturally responsive TA models, capacity building of producers, place-based infrastructure and provider investment, greater access to secure land and financial capital, and more inclusive communication channels and grant structures. This study contributes to a growing body of work calling for systemic reforms in agri­cultural support systems. Future research that is conducted on a larger scale, that includes producer perspectives and examines impacts of policy shifts on TA programming is needed.