Local Food Systems | USDA
"Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues" is a May 2010 report by the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Top level findings are:
- There is no generally accepted definition of “local” food.
- Local food markets account for a small but growing share of total U.S. agricultural sales.
- Production of locally marketed food is more likely to occur on small farms located in or near metropolitan counties.
- Consumers who value high-quality foods produced with low environmental impact are willing to pay more for locally produced food.
- Federal, State, and local government programs increasingly support local food systems.
- As of early 2010, there were few studies on the impact of local food markets on economic development, health, or environmental quality.
Economic development studies, although few, point to the benefits of local food systems:
Empirical studies suggest that local foods can have a positive impact on local economic activity through import substitution and localization of processing activities. …
Farmers’ markets have been found to have positive impacts on local economies. Otto and Varner (2005) estimated that each dollar spent at farmers’ markets in Iowa generated 58 cents in indirect and induced sales. …
Accounting for displaced economic activity within the local community reduces the positive economic impacts of localization, although estimated overall benefits are still positive. …
Local food markets may stimulate additional business activity within the local economy by improving business skills and opportunities. …
The presence of local food markets may also spur consumer spending at other businesses in a community.
