The Demand for Local Food is Here to Stay!

It seems the rising price of gas has given an exciting boost the the local foods movement as large retailers are now going the extra organizational mile to reduce their shipping costs.

And Walmart is leading the pack with plans to spend $400 million on local produce this year. More...
There are a variety of strategies at play here ranging from handing over parking lot or store space for farmer's market stands to extensive decentralization of the buying system that involved building one-on-one relationship with local farms or farm coops.

And chains such as Hannaford Brothers and Wegmans Food Markets who have already been selling local foods for years are being rewarded with an increase in sales.

There are still some details to be worked out chains and consumers adjust from an I want what I want right now attitude to Ooo, Look! Blueberries are ripe! mindset. Marketers have been training us for years to be dependent on consistency, even if that meant consistently bad, but I think a nimble love of diversity and seasonality will spread.

As systems for local distribution evolve, it will be easier and easier for consumers to purchase foods that have been harvested at their peak of ripeness, which means an increase in flavor and optimal nutritional status.

In the meantime, buying local serves the planet as a whole by reducing consumption of fossil fuels, therefore adding less carbon to the atmosphere.

Read more in the NY times article: Supermarket Chains Narrow Their Sites