Several interrelated processes, not entirely synchronous,but with cumulative effect, are transforming and di-versifying modern food provisioning in Western Europe,North America and many other parts of the world. Theseprocesses have created economic and cultural spaces,often designated as niche markets, for alternative foodnetworks (AFNs), whose products – organic, Fair Trade,local and quality, premium specialty foods – are differ-entiated from those typically furnished by mainstreamfood manufacturers and retailers