ABSTRACT
Objectives ............................................................................................................... 270 Key Terms .............................................................................................................. 270 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 271 Dening “Local Food” ........................................................................................... 272
US Federal and State Denitions ...................................................................... 272 Consumer Denitions........................................................................................ 273 Retailer Denitions ........................................................................................... 274 Nonprots and Nongovernmental Organization Denitions............................. 275 Producer Denitions.......................................................................................... 275
Characteristics of Local Food Systems .................................................................. 276 Short Food Supply Chains ................................................................................ 277 Local/Regional Food Hubs................................................................................ 277 Direct to Consumer ........................................................................................... 277 Community Supported Agriculture ................................................................... 277 Farmers Markets ................................................................................................ 278 Farm to Restaurants ........................................................................................... 278 Farm Delivery Services ..................................................................................... 279 Farm to School .................................................................................................. 279 Farm to Institutions ........................................................................................... 279 Edible Landscapes/Home Gardening ................................................................280 Gleaning Networks ............................................................................................280 Jail/Prison Farming ...........................................................................................280 Community Gardens ......................................................................................... 281 Foragers ............................................................................................................. 281 Urban Farming .................................................................................................. 282
Benets of Local Food ........................................................................................... 282 Social Benets ................................................................................................... 282 Consumer Benets ............................................................................................ 283 Economic Benets ............................................................................................284 Producer Benets ..............................................................................................284 Retailer Benets ................................................................................................285 Nongovernmental Organization Benets ..........................................................285 Environmental Benets .....................................................................................285
Impediments to Local Food Systems .....................................................................286 Summary ................................................................................................................290
Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to
