ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the food processing and manufacturing industry that lies downstream from the farm sector in the food supply system. The freezing and canning of vegetables, the slaughter, evisceration, deboning and packaging of poultry, and the pasteurization and bottling of milk are illustrative of food processing. By food manufacturing people imply the transformation of agricultural raw materials into food products that have lost many of the characteristics of the original materials. Resistance has also emerged amongst agricultural producers, food retailers and food consumers against the increasing market dominance of large food processors and manufacturers. Amongst producers, alternative ways are being sought in marketing farm produce directly to consumers, including pick-your-own, farm shops, farmers markets and vegebox schemes for organic produce. Amongst retailers, the emergence of large, financially powerful supermarket chains has brought a countervailing power into the market for food.
