Farmers Market season is upon us! Here in Boulder, it began in early April, and will run through the end of November. Every Wednesday and Saturday in downtown Boulder near our office, small farms and vendors from the area come to sell their fresh food and wares. Late spring through fall is the time when locally sourced produce and goods become more readily available, and we take full advantage! We are fortunate to live in an area of the state, and indeed the country, where access to fresh food is abundant. From farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) shares, and farm-to-table restaurants to community gardens and food co-ops, we are ideally suited to avoid shopping globally in favor of supporting our local food producers.
But it begs the question – just how easy is it to eat local? For starters, eating “local” can mean something different to different people. There is no universal definition of “local” food, but a broadly accepted definition is “food that is grown within 100 miles of its purchase or consumption point.” In a large state like Colorado (at 380 miles by 280 miles), that definition feels a bit narrow. State level initiatives, such as Colorado Proud, are often less restrictive in their promotion of “local” food and agriculture, focusing on the state as a whole.
Local Food Shift estimates that in most Colorado communities, less than 3% of consumed food is locally-grown and locally-produced. We here in Boulder County like to think we can do better than that. Based on a study in 2009 of Boulder County consumers, if we could increase the proportion of the food we purchase from Boulder County farmers to ten percent, we’d see an estimated $37 million of new annual farm income county-wide!
If it were easy to eat locally, shouldn’t we be able to meet a ten percent goal? What is holding us back? Why has the local food movement (even in places like Boulder) been unsuccessful in achieving a complete transformation of our food system? The answer can largely be boiled down to four main barriers: access, resources and supply, bureaucracy, and awareness.
Access – Local food is often either financially or physically inaccessible, or too inconvenient to acquire for the average consumer. Sadly, we often don’t prioritize local food procurement over other competing uses of our time. The financial inaccessibility of locally-produced goods is a very real issue for many people. It is important to note that most farmers markets are required to accept WIC and food stamps, and some markets have programs that allow the purchase of “market bucks” at a discounted rate for use during the season.
Resources and Supply – Seasonal availability of local products is another barrier to the local-food movement gaining market share. Insufficient production can be due to limited growing seasons, the decline in farmland and farmers, and/or lack of production infrastructure. Our current production and distribution is based on an “economies of scale” model that presents a challenge for small local growers. It isn’t feasible to try and fit local food production into the current model of centralized warehouses and processing plants. One solution? More direct-to-consumer outlets could be created within local communities.
Bureaucracy – Is there any area of our lives that bureaucracy does not infiltrate? Regulations can be a huge barrier to the local food economy. Land use, zoning, tax policies, permitting, financing – these all play a huge part in the ability to increase our capacity for local agribusiness.
Awareness – Many consumers aren’t aware of what is grown locally and when and where it is available. Local food movement non-profits lack funding for large-scale communication and education campaigns. The disconnect we have as a society between what is on our plate and what it takes to put it there is a leading factor in some lack of appreciation of the true value of food. Americans spend less on food than any other country on the planet, roughly just eight percent of our income. Forty years ago we were spending about a third of our income on food.
So where do we go from here? Thankfully, there are many resources available for people to learn more about their state’s local economy. Many states have their own local, organic, and seasonal food guides. You can visit “About Food” to find State Guides to Eating Locally. Below are some resources for Coloradans to get started this season. Bon Appétit!
- Colorado Farmers Market Association – One of the best local resources for the promotion of farmers markets and direct marketing of Colorado agricultural products – everything from local food resources to recipes, food storage, and more.
- Colorado Proud – In addition to information about Colorado businesses, you can find information on local farmers markets, wineries, breweries, and culinary activities.
- Local Harvest – A searchable database for farms, CSAs, products, farmers markets, etc.
- Boulder County Home & Garden – A listing of farm-to-table dining opportunities at local farms. Hurry, these fill up fast!