Trend: Local food, organic food

Local food and organic food are two ways to make a more profitable small farm, restaurant, cafe, food market, or other food business.

Local honey from Cherokee, Oklahoma.

Local food trend

Buying local food is a growing trend. It’s better for the environment because of the lower transportation distances.

“Eating locally isn’t just a fad like the various diets advertised on late-night TV – it may be one of the most important ways we save ourselves and the planet.”
– Dr. David Suzuki, chair, The David Suzuki Foundation

21st Century Citizen calls it “a simple step you can take” and lists five resources to buy more local food.

Organic food trend

Our friend Jack Schultz recently profiled the organic trend in his Agurban email newsletter.

“The demand for organic food is outstripping the ability of farmers and ranchers to supply it. Yet U.S. farmers and ranchers have been slow to turn acreage over to organic production,” an article in the Daily Yonder said.

“Just as mainstream consumers are growing hungry for untainted food that also nourishes their social conscience, it is getting harder and harder to find organic ingredients,” a recent Business Week report stated.

Tips

Many small town food-related business can take advantage of these two trends to improve profitability.

Farms and livestock producers:

• Get certified as organic
• Dedicate more acres to organic items
• Focus on local markets, promoting your local advantage
• Develop direct market methods to go direct to consumers or consumer groups

Restaurants and cafes:

• Seek out local partners and organic sources
• Promote your local and organic items in all your marketing

[Thanks to Giovanni Gallucci for the photo of Lavender Ridge Farms, Gainsboro, Texas.]

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