Growing Local: Case Studies on Local Food Supply Chains (Our Sustainable Future) - Hardcover

"The subject is highly important to the current and future development of the food industry, especially for local alternatives. . . . [Growing Local] makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of contemporary issues in the food system."-Charles Francis, professor of agronomy and horticulture and the former director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture Systems at the University of Nebraska -- Charles Francis "A systematic and objective view of local food supply chains by means of an impressive collection of case studies. The breadth of case studies, in terms of products, geographic locations, and market channel options, makes the book a worthwhile addition to local food literature. . . . [It] both informs and challenges researchers, students, and local food practitioners."-Rodney B. Holcomb, American Journal of Agricultural Economics -- Rodney B. Holcomb * American Journal of Agricultural Economics *

In an increasingly commercialized world, the demand for better quality, healthier food has given rise to one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. food system: locally grown food. Many believe that "relocalization" of the food system will provide a range of public benefits, including lower carbon emissions, increased local economic activity, and closer connections between consumers, farmers, and communities. The structure of local food supply chains, however, may not always be capable of generating these perceived benefits. Growing Local reports the findings from a coordinated series of case studies designed to develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how local food products reach consumers and how local food supply chains compare with mainstream supermarket supply chains. To better understand how local food reaches the point of sale, Growing Local uses case study methods to rigorously compare local and mainstream supply chains for five products in five metropolitan areas along multiple social, economic, and environmental dimensions, highlighting areas of growth and potential barriers. Growing Local provides a foundation for a better understanding of the characteristics of local food production and emphasizes the realities of operating local food supply chains.