Shermain Hardesty, Director

Contact information (530) 752-7774 sfpdirector@ucdavis.edu View faculty web page at UC Davis

Dr. Shermain Hardesty serves as the director of the UC Small Farm Program and as a Cooperative Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics at UC Davis.

Her research interests frequently focus on collaborative structures to enhance returns to producers. One focus of her work with the Small Farm Program is exploring more efficient marketing and distribution systems for small-scale farmers. Related topics of interest include small-scale livestock production and marketing, regulatory relief for small producers, and value-added products.

Since 1993, Hardesty has taught the course “Getting Started in the Specialty Food Business” at UC Davis-Extension. She joined the faculty of the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics in 2004 and also served as the director of the Rural Cooperatives Center. She began serving as the Small Farm Program director in July 2007.

Hardesty holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from UC Davis.

Recent Publications & Projects

• Determining Marketing Costs and Returns in Alternative Marketing Channels
  This case study of three farms in Northern California compared the economics of marketing through farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, and wholesale channels.
• Northern California Niche Meat Market Demand Study
  This study examined the market prospects for “niche” red meats – such as certified organic, grass-fed, naturally-raised, local, Kosher, and Halal – in the San Francisco/Sacramento region.

Additional Projects

• Risk Management Resources for Specialty Crops Producers
  A collection of articles about the marketing risks faced by specialty crops producers, presented at workshops in 2007.
• Cooperatives information
  These web pages include information created originally for the Rural Cooperatives Center website, including definitions, publications and tips for how to start a cooperative.

 

Some of the publications listed on this page are available in PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program. Free printed copies are also available from the Small Farm Center, (530) 752-8136.