Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues

TLDR

There is no consensus on what constitutes “local” food systems, though marketing arrangements such as farmers’ markets and school sales are widely recognized, and small farms rely more heavily on direct consumer marketing than larger farms. The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of local food systems, examining alternative definitions, market size, consumer and producer characteristics, and early economic and health impact signals. The authors conduct a literature review that surveys definitions, estimates market size and reach, characterizes local consumers and producers, and evaluates early indications of economic and health impacts. Local food markets represent a small but growing share of U.S.

Abstract

This comprehensive overview of local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems. There is no consensus on a definition of “local” or “local food systems” in terms of the geographic distance between production and consumption. But defining “local” based on marketing arrangements, such as farmers selling directly to consumers at regional farmers’ markets or to schools, is well recognized. Statistics suggest that local food markets account for a small, but growing, share of U.S. agricultural production. For smaller farms, direct marketing to consumers accounts for a higher percentage of their sales than for larger farms. Findings are mixed on the impact of local food systems on local economic development and better nutrition levels among consumers, and sparse literature is so far inconclusive about whether localization reduces energy use or greenhouse gas emissions.