Sales of locally produced foods comprise a small but growing part
of U.S. agricultural sales. USDA estimates that farm-level value of
local food sales totaled about $4.8 billion in 2008, or about 1.6%
of the U.S. market for agricultural products. An estimated total of
107,000 farms are engaged in local food systems, or about 5% of all
U.S. farms. There is no established definition of what constitutes
a "local food." Local and regional food systems generally refer to
agricultural production and marketing that occurs within a certain
geographic proximity (between farmer and consumer) or that involves
certain social or supply chain characteristics in producing food
(such as small family farms, urban gardens, or farms using
sustainable agriculture practices). Some perceive locally sourced
foods as fresher and higher in quality compared to some other
readily available foods, and also believe that purchasing local
foods helps support local farm economies and/or farmers that use
certain production practices that are perceived to be more
environmentally sustainable. A wide range of farm businesses may be
considered to be engaged in local foods. These include
direct-to-consumer marketing, farmers' markets, farm-to-school
programs, community-supported agriculture, community gardens,
school gardens, food hubs and market aggregators, and kitchen
incubators and mobile slaughter units. Other types of operations
include on-farm sales/stores, internet marketing, food cooperatives
and buying clubs, pick-your-own or "U-Pick" operations, roadside
farm stands, urban farms (and rooftop farms and gardens), community
kitchens, small scale food processing and decentralized root
cellars, and some agritourism or other types of on farm
recreational activities. The 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246, Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) contained a few program
provisions that directly support local and regional food systems.
However, many existing federal programs benefiting U.S.
agricultural producers may also provide support and assistance for
local food systems. These include farm support and grant programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and may
be grouped into several broad program categories: marketing and
promotion; business assistance; rural and community development;
nutrition and education; agricultural research and cooperative
extension; and farmland conservation. Examples include USDA's
farmers' market programs, rural cooperative grants, and selected
child nutrition programs, among myriad other grant and loan
programs, as well as USDA's research and cooperative extension
service. Farm bill proposals debated in the 112th Congress would
have expanded several of these programs. The 113th Congress will
likely consider reauthorization of the 2008 farm bill and may
reconsider proposals debated in the 112th Congress to address
expiring farm bill provisions, including provisions that either
directly or indirectly support local food systems. Although the
2008 farm bill contained few specific programs that directly
support local and regional food systems, many community and farm
advocacy groups have been arguing that such food systems should
play a larger policy role within the next farm bill, and that laws
should be modified to reflect broader, more equitable policies
across a range of production systems, including local food systems.
The 112th Congress introduced legislation, including several
comprehensive marker bills, which would have expanded the benefits
for local and regional food systems. These issues may continue to
be of interest in the 113th Congress.
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