Phase 2 - Sustaining Local Food Systems

This second phase of the project examines how trends toward the globalization of agriculture and pressure from urbanization are expressed on a local or regional level. It focuses specifically on how farmers and rural communities respond to these changes in ways that strengthen farm businesses, the larger community, and the food system as a whole. These innovations include new marketing approaches, place-based labeling programs, development of specialty products and value-added product lines, agricultural tourism, farmers market and you-pick sales, and partnerships with Slow Food and other consumer organizations. These new markets and products often occur in conjunction with mainstream or conventional approaches. The goal of this phase of the project is to better understand how to sustain and benefit from such agricultural and food initiatives.