Why (and How) We Should Support Local Food Systems

Author: Lydia Copeland - BS in Agriculture from Penn State

Food shortages are often lurking in the shadows. When we have a storm disrupt the trucks from bringing our food to grocery stores, we see and feel the empty shelves. But how closely are these symptoms of a delicate system waiting to take effect, without us noticing them behind us. 

Today we see many reports of factors negatively impacting our food systems, forecasting shortages in the future. Unnecessary politics disrupting shipping routes and even the weather shortening crucial growing seasons. 

On top of all this, Most of us are feeling the increased cost of food, from the grocery store to restaurants, It feels like everything is more expensive...... because it is. According to the USDA in 2026, the cost of beef is up %6, vegetables are up 4.8% and sugar (which is in almost everything) is up 8.1% (1).

Let's look at where food comes from in the US. Our reliance on imported food has doubled since 2000, now putting us at 19%. We source food from over 100,000 facilities across 200 countries. The percent of fresh produce tremendously exceed this 19% average, we rely on imports for 32% of our fresh fruits and 55% vegetable needs. (2)(3)

This data makes me wonder then about the other 80% we keep and consume. If most of our vegetables & fruits are imported this leaves us to grow and consume the majority of our then grains and sugar-based products.... which we know create concerns with monoculture (4) and decreased nutritional value in food staples (5).

This creates a self-fueling cycle, With monoculture, we then see our internal production food system becoming less diverse, which leads us to be more depended on imports, as there is still a demand for fresh, diverse foods. 

Now that we know where our food comes from, what makes it so expensive? 

The main categories in the cost of food are transportation, labor and production itself. Local produce can be cheaper than store bought, especially when in season, produced closer and abundant. Imported food has economies of scale, leading to imported produce sometimes being cheaper. Seasonality, transportation distance and production scale all play a huge role in the cost. 

There is also the cost of risk. A longer process of transport has more steps from A to B, this could mean more opportunities for disruption. The cost of transportation can be volatile from the cost of gas and shipping routes. These steps usually also mean more people in between, also getting their cut from the stops along the way. 

Why should we take the extra step to buy more local food? 

It's simple, use it or lose it. 

If we don't support our local food producers, we will become more dependent on imported food supplies. We need to support local food producers so they will be here when we need them. When the importing systems aren't able to provide, we will need these additional and local options to get our food from. 

Shopping local also supports our local economy. If you want a community, packed with businesses and vendors, you need to support it and invest in it to build this space. 

Our food systems are closer than we think! 67% of counties in the US have at least one farmers' market (6). In 2026, we have +7000 farmers markets and +4600 on-farm markets in the US! (7). We also have a rise of home-based farm stands, which are essential for filling access gaps between farmers markets, these are your local neighbors growing produce and providing for their community! 

Voting for local food systems with our dollars supports having more diverse and fresh food systems close to us, instead of 1000s miles away. A very worthy investment in our community and our future. 

What can we do to make sure our local food systems are here for the next generation?

Yes, it is a bit more work to step outside of our comfort zones, away from our regular grocery stores, take the time to find a food stand or farmer's market and add it to our already packed shopping stops. The average person lives about 1 mile from a grocery store, but local produce is about 3 or more miles away (8). This extra step is worth it! Small steps add up to us all supporting these systems! 

The USDA has an amazing resource! Check out their local food directory, this site is packed with local places to source local food and how you can connect with your local food system. Website: USDA Local Food Directories

Imagine if took these small steps - we started by going to our local food market, farm or stand at least once a month. We'd support our local food systems, get to know more members in our community and stay connected with them via their social media or newsletters and then even told other people about them - this would have a huge impact! 

Thanks for reading, I hope I've inspired you to check out your local market, farm or farm stand! These parts of our community are so important and worth supporting!

How close are you to your local food system? Check Here: USDA Local Food Directories

Citations

(1) Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service

(2) The Import Share of U.S.-Consumed Food Continues To Rise | Economic Research Service

(3) FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food | FDA

(4) One Crop to Rule Them All? The Hidden Dangers of Monoculture Farming | Earth Day

(5) An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations’ Health - PMC Bhardwaj RL, Parashar A, Parewa HP, Vyas L. An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations' Health. Foods. 2024 Mar 14;13(6):877. doi: 10.3390/foods13060877. PMID: 38540869; PMCID: PMC10969708.

(6) Farmers' Markets Concentrated in Metro Counties | Economic Research Service

(7) USDA Local Food Directories

(8) U.S. Shoppers’ Access to Multiple Food Stores Varies by Region | Economic Research Service