All people should be able to eat fresh, healthy food. And, in a time of economic uncertainty and global unrest, supporting the local economy by buying local produce and goods makes sense on many levels. Unfortunately, fresh local produce is often more expensive than the alternatives and is not easily afforded by the whole community.
For some of us, we face a combination of barriers to buying fresh, local food including cultural identity[i], social norms, geographical location, access to transportation, limited time, and more. The greatest barrier, however, is the amount of money in our wallets or household budgets compared to the cost[ii]. In rare cases, local products are of equal or less cost than their “imported” counterparts. Unfortunately, in most cases, buying from local growers is far more expensive than buying food from the chain grocery store, or worse, from the chain fast food restaurants.
As the “buy local” and “locavore” movements expand, we are seeing an increase in farmers/tailgate markets in cities across the U.S. Unfortunately, they are overwhelmingly frequented by “predominantly affluent, educated individuals of European-American background.” (Smirl, 2011) To encourage more low-income participation, many markets have now incorporated acceptance of SNAP benefits (visit the USDA website for more information). Additionally, recent changes in the federal EBT program allow for purchase of vegetable and fruit seeds to encourage people to grow their own food. And, though these are laudable strides in the right direction, more creative local solutions must be found.
Another way local farmers are working to make produce more accessible is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), where consumers buy “shares” of produce at the beginning of a growing season and get weekly deliveries of vegetables and fruit throughout the coming months. A significant draw-back for the low-income family is the large upfront cost of the share. At least one CSA has developed a “subsidy” model that uses a portion of the full-price shares to underwrite low-income shares, though a very limited number of these low-income shares are available each season.
One answer to making local produce more affordable is the produce market, but not just any produce market – a new model for a sustainable, inclusive, and just local business. In order to address the various barriers outlined earlier, the market must be culturally inclusive, both through the produce it sells and through the market’s aesthetic, as well as locating itself within the communities it strives to serve. To help keep costs low, the market would take advantage of local farmers’ “seconds” (less aesthetically appealing, though viable fruits and vegetables), as well as surplus produce that comes out of backyard and community gardens throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. The market will also grow its own produce with very little overhead by contracting with owners of vacant lots in the surrounding community to grow food on their land. And, similar to Pilot Mount Pride, the market will act as a clearinghouse for local (especially urban) farms, allowing farmers to eliminate the cost of direct marketing and advertising while focusing their time and energy on growing more produce. Though federal subsidies are not the ultimate answer, the possibility exists of increasing the value of SNAP/EBT benefits by counting each EBT dollar as 1.5 dollars. Since labor is often the highest cost to doing business, the market would offer a work-trade system that would count hours volunteered as market dollars.
The creative responses to the problem of access and affordability when it comes to local produce are limited only by our imaginations and will. As we continue in uncertain global economies, more of the population face tough economic times and are now categorized as low income. As more people are able to keep their dollars circulating in their own communities by buying local, these communities become more economically and socially resilient.
[i] James D. Factors Influencing Food Choices, Dietary Intake, and Nutrition-Related Attitudes among African Americans: Application of a Culturally Sensitive Model.Ethnicity & Health [serial online]. November 2004;9(4):349-367. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA
[ii] The Availability and Cost of Healthier Food Alternatives Original Research Article American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 30, Issue 1, January 2006, Pages 38-44. Karen M. Jetter, Diana L. Cassady
