Local and Regional Food Systems in Florida: Values and Economic Impacts

A survey of 1599 randomly selected Florida households was conducted in 2012 to evaluate the consumer characteristics and economic impacts of local food purchases through retail stores, restaurants, and direct-to-consumer market channels. The total annual value of local food purchases averaged $1114 per household and represented 20.1% of food purchased for at-home consumption. The total economic impacts of local food purchases in Florida were estimated at 183,625 jobs and $10.47 billion in value-added, including regional multiplier effects for agricultural production and wholesale and retail distribution. These values are significantly higher than found in previous studies in other states