A few notes on the study of short food supply chains on the example of farm boxes in Czech Republic

Besides other topics, foreign scientists (agricultural economists, rural geographers, geographers of agriculture/food) especially from Western Europe and the U.S.A., pay attention to the development of short food supply chains (SFSCs)/alternative food networks (AFNs) in the long-term perspective. Such schemes were established as one of the substitute options of food distribution in the space of "traditional forms" of food distribution and consumption. With view to the actual dramatic development of alternative food networks in the Czech Republic, it is not surprising that in a recent period, a number of studies shift attention to this issue. Most studies are focused on the development of short (food) supply chains, particularly farmers' markets and direct sales. Because SFSCs/AFNs are a relatively current topic and an unexplored concept in many characteristics, the authors of the presented paper use the example of the box scheme (the so-called farm boxes) to describe selected aspects of its development in the Czech Republic while applying geographic, agroeconomic and marketing approaches. The analysis is based on data of specialized web databases which actors of the box scheme use to offer their product via on-line channels. First results reveal a regional differentiation of farm boxes in the Czech republic, relationships between customers, headquarters and supply points and differences in the nature of the product (for example the range of offered commodities...) and its management.