The Local Food Movement: Definitions, Benefits, and Resources

What does it mean to eat locally? Although perceptions of what makes up “local food” differ by region (due in large part to varying climates, soil types, and populations), most researchers accept that eating locally means minimizing the distance between production and consumption, especially in relation to the modern mainstream food system (Peters et al., 2008). According to the 2008 Farm Act, a product can be marketed as locally or regionally produced if its end-point purchase is within 400 miles from its origin, or within state boundaries (Martinez et al., 2010). Most retailers, however, consider local to be on a smaller scale than the state level and the term is often defined as products produced and sold within county lines