In today’s global food systems, the prices of food reflect not only the cost of the initial product and marketing costs but also the process of moving products from producers to c onsumers. It is useful for local producers and processors to understand how the national marketplace operates. A few questions they need to consider are: How is final value distributed among U.S. consumers of sausage products? What are the functions that command the greatest value? Where are the market opportunities an d challenges for local producers?