Journal of Food Distribution Research
SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

AgEcon Search (select Journal of Food Distribution Research )

Link to search FDRS Journals online

The Journal of Food Distribution Research has an applied, problem-oriented focus. The Journal’s emphasis is on the flow of products and services through the food wholesale and retail distribution system. Related areas of interest include patterns of consumption, impacts of technology on processing and manufacturing, packaging and transport, data and information systems in the food and agricultural industry, market development, and international trade in food products and agricultural commodities. Business and agricultural and applied economic applications are encouraged. Acceptable methodologies include survey, review, and critique; analysis and syntheses of previous research; econometric or other statistical analysis; and case studies. Teaching cases will be considered. Issues on special topics may be published based on requests or on the editor’s initiative. Potential usefulness to a broad range of agricultural and business economists is an important criterion for publication.

The Journal of Food Distribution Research is refereed and published three times each year by the Society. The March issue is dedicated to the proceedings from the previous annual FDRS conference, and the July and November issues contain refereed articles.

Eligibility: Open to all individuals.

Cover Letter: Indicate whether the manuscript, or a version of it, has been published or considered for publication elsewhere.

The Reviewing Process

Each paper submitted is subjected to the following review procedures
(1) It is reviewed by the editor for general suitability for this publication.
(2) If it is judged suitable two reviewers are selected and a double blind review process takes place.
(3) Based on the recommendations of the reviewers, the editors then decide whether the particular article should be accepted as it is, revised or rejected.

Required Format of Submitted Manuscripts

There are a number of specific requirements with regard to article features and formats which authors should note carefully. Please submit manuscripts according to the guidelines.

1. Word length
Articles for the refereed issues (July and November) should not exceed 8,000 words in length, all inclusive. For the proceedings issue (March), which presents papers presented at the Annual Conference: research reports cannot exceed 12 double-spaced pages, including tables, figures, and references; research updates are limited to a maximum of 400 words., all inclusive

2. Title and Title Page
A title should be brief and clearly reflect the objective of the paper.

Papers submitted for review must include the title page with the title, author(s) names(s), affiliation(s), and the contact information.

3. Abstracts
Authors must supply an abstract of no more than 100 words when submitting a manuscript for review. It should be an abbreviated, accurate representation of the content of the article. Major results, conclusions and/or recommendations should be given, followed by supporting details of method, scope or purpose. It should contain sufficient information to enable readers to decide whether they should obtain and read the entire published article. Place the abstract on a separate, unnumbered page before the main body of the paper.

4. Autobiographical Note
Author(s) of accepted articles should supply autobiographical notes including full name, appointment, and name of organization and the e-mail address of the contact author. The title page is placed in front of the submitted paper.

5. Word Processing
Articles accepted for publication must be submitted in Word or WordPerfect format only. Use a 12-point font throughout the paper. Papers should be double-spaced, printed on one side of the paper (8½” x 11"), with the title page and abstract placed on unnumbered pages in front of the main body, followed by references, tables, figures, and endnotes.

6. Headings and Sub-Headings
These should be short and to-the-point. Headings should be typed in capitals; sub-headings should be typed in upper and lower case, with headings bold and subheadings in italics.

7. Formulas and Equations
All should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in round parentheses, flushed right, e.g., (1). Clearly mark all notation in each equation.

8. References
The list of references begins on a separate page and follows the main body of the text. References to other publication should contain full bibliographical details and journal titles should not be abbreviated. For multiple citations in the same year use a, b, c immediately following the year of the publication.

References should be shown as follows:

within the text - author’s last name followed by a year of publication, all in round brackets, e.g. (Fox 1994);

at the end of the article a reference list in alphabetical order as follows:

(a) for books
surname, initials, year of publication, title, publisher, place of publication, e.g., Schaffner, D. J., W. R. Schroder, and M. D. Earle. 1998. Food Marketing: An International Perspective. WCB/McGraw-Hill: Dubuque, IA.

(b) for chapter in edited book
surname, initials, year, “title”, initials, In title, editor’s surname, publisher, place, pages, e.g., Hillman, A. L., L. Mitov, and R. K. Peters. 1995. “The Private Sector, State Enterprises, and Informal Economic Activity.: In Financing the Government in Transition: Bulgaria, Ž. Bogetic and A. L. Hillman, Eds. The World Bank, Washington, DC, pp.

(c) for articles
surname, initials, year “title”, journal, volume (number - if pages are not consecutive in volume): pages, e.g., Huang, C. L., K. Kan, and T. T. Fu. 1999. “Consumer Willingness-to-Pay for Food Safety in Taiwan: A Binary-Ordinal Probit Model of Analysis.” Journal of Consumer Affairs 33:76-91.

If there is more than one author, list initials followed by surnames. All authors must be shown.

(d) for unpublished papers
surname, initials, year, “title”, publisher, paper number if applicable, place, e.g., Wysocki, A. and H. Peterson. 1998. “Quantifying Choice Along the Vertical Coordination Continuum.” Food and Resource Economics Department Staff Paper, No. SP98-18, University of Florida.

(e) extension publications
surname, initials, year, “title”, place, paper number if applicable, e.g., Wills, R. and T. Cox. 1988. “Generic Agricultural Commodity and Promotion: Economics and Impacts.” A. E. Ext. New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Department of Agricultural Economics 88-3 (March):13-16.

(f) personal communication
surname, initials, year, Personal communication, contact, city, state, date, e.g., Gruenwald, K. 2001. Personal communication, Manager, Canadian Meats, Oklahoma City, OK, October 4.

(g) online publications
Electronic sources should include the URL of the electronic site at which they may be found.
Notes/Endnotes should be used only if absolutely necessary. They should be identified in the text by consecutive numbers enclosed in square brackets and listed at the end of the article.
Also, provide the date the publication was retrieved, e.g., [Accessed August 15, 2004]

9. Figures, Charts, Diagrams
Use of figures, charts and diagrams should be kept to a minimum and information conveyed in such a manner should instead be described in text form. Essential figures, charts and diagrams should be referred to as figures and numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals. Each figure should have a brief title and labeled axes. Diagrams should be kept as simple as possible.

10. Tables
Each table typed on a separate sheet of paper and numbered consecutively and independently of any figures included in the article. Each table should have a number of Arabic numerals and a title. Use only horizontal lines to separate the heading and to close the table. Tables should not repeat data available elsewhere in the paper.

11. Emphasis
Words to be emphasized should be limited in number and italicized. Capital letters should be used only at the start of sentences or in the case of proper names.

12. Submission of Papers for the Review:
For electronic submissions:
- send a paper in the ‘pdf’ format without authors’ identification;
- send the title page in the ‘pdf’ format as a separate file;
- enclose a cover letter in the ‘pdf’ format;
- e-mail all files to: Journal Editor, Albert Allen, allen@agecon.msstate.edu

For submission by post:
Albert Allen, Co-Editor
Journal of Food Distribution Research
PO Box 5187
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662-325-2883
Fax : 662-325-6614

13. Release Form, Reprints, and Page Charges
A release form must be signed by at least one of the authors, preferably the senior author, prior to publication of accepted articles. The signing author receives 30 reprints of the article, the page charge invoice ($65 per printed page), and is responsible for assuring the payment.

Payment is now available online. For those doing payment for journal page charges with credit card (online payment) an additional $20 processing fee will be added to the cost.

Click here for online payment

PUBLISHED BY THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH SOCIETY, INC.