The Health and Economic Benefits of Producing and Selling Local Food-Supply Chain Resilience

Local food is vital, and it’s becoming increasingly important. The challenge is finding good statistics on just how much of our food supply actually comes from local sources. I looked around, and while I wasn’t going to spend 40 hours digging through every possible report—because eventually you have to come up for air—I did want to get a general idea. The data suggests that only around 3% of U.S. agricultural sales come through local food markets. That number is both interesting and a little concerning.

(Illustrative Only)

Joe's horse
is good on gas,
only needs to go 5 miles to
be in the country, 
and many times he
sells much of his stuff
on the way. 
....and he built
his house.
Yep in the plan. 

COVID-19 gave us a real-world reminder of how vulnerable distribution systems can become. When people started worrying about grocery shortages and supply chain disruptions, it highlighted the importance of having multiple sources of food. A healthy balance—just throwing out a number—might be something like 50% of food coming from local and regional sources and 50% coming through larger national distribution channels. That type of diversity could make our food system more resilient if a disease outbreak, transportation problem, or other disruption affected one part of the country.

Local food also matters because it keeps money circulating in rural communities. We have many rural areas with unused farmland and declining populations, yet we have not always created the policies needed to help smaller producers compete. A small farmer trying to compete with massive agricultural operations faces a difficult challenge. Local stores can help bridge that gap. Here in Escanaba, businesses like Elmer’s, Escanaba Farmer's Market, Gladstones Farmer's Market and other retailers that bring local products onto their shelves are helping build that connection between producers and consumers.

There is also a health component. Food that is grown locally often travels a shorter distance, which can mean fresher products and better nutritional value. Large-scale food production and processing can sometimes reduce nutrients through harvesting practices, storage, and processing methods. When you know where your food comes from—and you know someone down the road grew it—it changes your relationship with what you eat. Compare that with grabbing a bag of chips from the shelf; convenient, yes, but probably not something anyone would put on a nutrition poster.

Over the past few years, I’ve been trying to eat healthier because I understand the importance of reducing unnecessary additives and improving overall nutrition. With my fitness trainer and yoga instructor certifications, I’ve become more interested in how food connects to health. If anyone wants some virtual fitness help, send me a message and we can set something up. muradabel@gmail.com

Supporting local food systems is about more than vegetables at a farmers market. It’s about creating opportunities that bring younger generations back to agriculture, strengthen rural economies, and improve food security.

I’ve been experimenting with this idea myself. As I get closer to retirement, I’ve considered buying a small piece of land—maybe a couple of acres, maybe 10 or 20 depending on what makes sense (and my tiny budget)—and growing some of my own food. Right now, I’m testing things out with potatoes, onions, and carrots. One thing I’ve learned: when you grow organically, you don’t always get those massive yields you see from industrial farming. My potatoes aren’t winning any county fair competitions for size yet! But the tradeoff is that you’re working with the soil naturally and producing something you know exactly where it came from.

For a small local operation, you don’t need to compete with massive farms producing thousands of acres. You can focus on quality, community, and healthier food. It’s an experiment for now, and it may or may not become a future project, but it’s interesting to think about how small-scale agriculture could play a bigger role in strengthening our communities.

You may find the following two studies of interest. The last one is from 2017.

Health Benefits of Eating Locally

• Eating locally often means purchasing food produced within approximately 100–250 miles, supporting local farmers while strengthening regional food systems and rural economies.
• Fresh local produce is typically harvested closer to the time of sale, allowing fruits and vegetables to ripen naturally and retain more nutrients, flavor, and quality.
• Shorter supply chains reduce food handling and transportation, which may decrease the risk of contamination and lessen the need for preservatives and extensive packaging.
• Buying locally encourages healthier eating by increasing access to fresh, minimally processed foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber while reducing reliance on highly processed foods.
• Supporting local food systems also promotes community engagement through farmers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and home gardening, while contributing to environmental sustainability and local economic development.

McCurdy, M. (2022, May 17). Health benefits of eating locally. University of New Hampshire Extension. https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/05/health-benefits-eating-locally

Local Food Sales Continue to Grow Through a Variety of Marketing Channels

• Local food sales represent a small but growing segment of the U.S. agricultural system. Sales of local edible farm products increased from $8.7 billion in 2015 to $11.8 billion in 2017, representing about 3% of total U.S. agricultural sales.
• Local food producers use multiple marketing channels, including farmers markets, farm stands, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, wholesalers, and regional distributors.
• In 2015, the largest share of local food sales came through intermediate markets and institutions (39%), followed by direct-to-consumer sales (34%) and retail channels (27%).
• Growth in local food markets has increasingly shifted beyond farmers markets toward restaurants, grocery stores, institutions, and other intermediated channels that allow producers to reach larger customer bases.
• Local food systems contribute to rural economic development by providing income opportunities for farmers, supporting beginning and small-scale producers, and strengthening connections between producers and consumers.

Martinez, S. (2021, October 4). Local food sales continue to grow through a variety of marketing channels. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2021/october/local-food-sales-continue-to-grow-through-a-variety-of-marketing-channels