Policies Supporting Local Food in the United States

Abstract

Local food has been the subject of federal, state, and local government policies in recent years throughout the United States as consumer demand has grown. Local foods have been linked to several government priorities-including enhancing the rural economy, the environment, and supporting agricultural producers. This article provides an overview of U.S. Federal, State and regional policies designed to support local food systems. It details the latest economic information on policy, relying on findings from several national surveys and a synthesis of recent literature. Federal policies related to local food systems were greatly expanded by the 2008 Farm Bill, and are further expanded in the Agricultural Act of 2014. United States policies address several barriers to the further expansion of local food markets, including scaling up output of small farms to address the needs of larger commercial outlets, lack of infrastructure for increasing local food sales, ability to trace product source, and producer education regarding local food expansion.

New frontiers in community initiatives to increase vegetable consumption

“…US experience suggests that community‐based or local food systems combined with policy and tax incentives to increase access can support vegetable consumption and food security among vulnerable populations, as well as support small‐ to medium‐size producers . Agricultural and economic policies focused on export growth generate entirely different strategies to policies focused on supporting small‐ to medium‐scale farming and providing access for vulnerable communities .…”

“…US experience suggests that community-based or local food systems combined with policy and tax incentives to increase access can support vegetable consumption and food security among vulnerable populations, as well as support small-to medium-size producers. 55,66 Agricultural and economic policies focused on export growth generate entirely different strategies to policies focused on supporting small-to medium-scale farming and providing access for vulnerable communities. 38 There is clearly potential for health promotion practitioners to advocate for building stronger public policy as well as economic support from government at all levels to enable synergies around local and global food systems that include food system sustainability, culture, social justice, health and well-being.…”

Local Entrepreneurship in the Context of Food Production: A Review

“…Martinez [48] raised the issue of federal, state, and local policy in the United States of North America in the context of supporting local food systems. Local food was linked to several government actions, i.e., improving rural economy and supporting agricultural producers.…”

A Land-Based and Spatial Assessment of Local Food Capacity in Northern Idaho, USA

“…According to one Congressional report, 7.8% of U.S. farms sold food through local food marketing channels from 2002 to 2007, and the number of farms with local direct-to-consumer food sales increased by 32%; this growth subsequently continued by 6% during 2007-2012 in the aftermath of the economic recession [1]. The literature typically defines "local food" as foods sold directly by farms to consumers, e.g., via farmers markets or roadside stands, or through intermediate marketing channels such as grocery stores and restaurants [1,2]. The growing demand for local food provides an important opportunity for small farms to increase their income [2].…”

“…The literature typically defines "local food" as foods sold directly by farms to consumers, e.g., via farmers markets or roadside stands, or through intermediate marketing channels such as grocery stores and restaurants [1,2]. The growing demand for local food provides an important opportunity for small farms to increase their income [2]. The sales of retail "organic" food, especially fruits and vegetables, have similarly boomed from $17 billion in 2006 to $40 billion in 2016 [3].…”