Local Ownership is the Future of Local Food

by Greg Plotkin · 2010-02-02 09:56:00 UTC
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When sustainable food advocates talk about the advantages of buying local, the conversation often focuses too narrowly on exactly how far food travels from farm to fork.

Distance is important — especially as it relates to transportation — but it is a false measure of sustainability and fails to address many of the issues and challenges associated with re-localizing our food system.

We certainly need farmers growing more food directly for their communities, but we also need more locally-owned food businesses -- restaurants, processing and distribution centers, grocery stores -- to serve as readily accessible markets for local food products, and as a way to keep food dollars circulating within communities.

Recognizing this need, a team of researchers set out three years ago to investigate the role that local ownership of food businesses plays in the economic success of communities. The research team studied 24 (12 domestic, 12 international) food businesses comprising various sizes, markets and production methods -- collectively referred to in their report as community food enterprises.

These CFEs are not only becoming increasingly competitive in the global marketplace, but may very well be the future of local food.

A great example of a successful CFE is Zingerman's Community of Businesses, pictured above, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After opening a deli in the city in 1982, the owners ran into the problem of not being able to find quality, local ingredients. Their solution was to start building businesses around the inputs needed to make their sandwiches. Over the next several decades a bakery, creamery, coffee roastery and other business were launched to supply Zingerman's deli, and other local businesses, with quality food produced within the community.

It is this kind of innovation that will drive the local food movement forward. It's great that there are so many farmers markets popping up across the country, but not everyone has the time or the money to patronize them.

We need CFEs like Zingerman's to help make local food less about how far your tomato traveled before it got into your salad, and more about who is really benefiting from each and every food dollar you spend.

Photo Credit: jbcurio

Greg Plotkin is the Coordinator of Farm Camp at Flying Pigs Farm in Washington County, New York.
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