In the USA, the local food movement has been traced to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, which spawned agricultural subsidies and price supports. The contemporary American movement can be traced back to … See more

In America, local food sales were worth $1.2 billion in 2007, more than doubled from $551 million in 1997. There were 5,274 farmers' markets in 2009, compared to 2,756 in 1998. In 2005, there were 1,144 community-supported agriculture organizations … See more

Motivations for eating local food include healthier food, environmental benefits, and economic or community benefits. Many local farmers, whom … See more

Food miles
Critics of the local foods movement question the fundamental principles behind the push to eat locally. For example, the concept that fewer "food miles" translates to a more sustainable meal has not been … See more

No single definition of local food systems exists. The geographic distances between production and consumption varies within the movement. However, the general public recognizes that "local" describes the marketing arrangement (e.g. farmers selling directly to … See more

Local food campaigns have been successful in supporting small local farmers. After declining for more than a century, the number of small farms increased 20% in … See more

Community
Local eating can support public objectives. It can promote community interaction by fostering … See more