Is “local” the latest food fad? Or is it here to stay? “Local” is now a popular marketing tool for major players in the retail food industry. Much like “organic”, the term reflects a growing customer demand, as we see “local product” shelf headers in more and more grocery stores.
At the same time, research shows the Local Food Movement has travelled too far to be dismissed as simply a marketing fad. Why? Too many people are part of this emerging movement; more importantly, many see “local food” as a necessity as we transition to an ecologically sustainable food system. A system that aligns with the initiative of healing of our planet. Many people see the Local Food Movement as another way they can contribute to an alternative means of resourcing aside from the detrimental practices of the industrialized, fossil-fuel-based agricultural system.