A growing number of consumers are beginning to doubt the safety, nutrition and sustainability of our agriculture and food system. At the same time, more and more young people are turning to farming. Communities across the nation are exploring ways to support local food production, and farmers are creating thriving food businesses.

The interest and demand for local foods provides our members and affiliates with many opportunities to develop the infrastructure for local food sourcing, like farmers markets, co-ops and food hubs as well as address regulatory and policy obstacles to local food and value-added production.

Organizing at the community level to support local food infrastructure increases income and jobs, especially in rural communities that lack food security, and replaces food imports with fresh, wholesome locally grown and processed food.