overview
When local economies prosper,
everyone benefits.
Money spent at local businesses have been shown to have a greater impact—both economically
and socially—than money spent at larger regional or national businesses. 1 When we connect
school food purchasing with local food producers, every dollar can generate an extra $0.60-
$2.16 of local economic activity 2 that can go directly toward good jobs, investing in local
farmers and community-owned businesses, for example. Makes you think a little differently
about the food that’s on your tray? Your school lunch can support businesses that value their
workers, practice sustainable production methods, commit to better animal welfare, and
create products that are good for people and the planet. Supporting those businesses can
also create high-quality jobs, protect land from corporate development, and strengthen local
economies—especially when we invest in people who are most often excluded from these
kinds of market opportunities.
Over the last 60 years, decisions have been made by fewer and fewer people, with
growing influence from corporations. 3 As decision-making power becomes more
concentrated in the hands of the few, consumers, workers, and farmers are marginalized
from making decisions about our food system, with people of color especially excluded. US
agriculture was founded on the theft of Native lands, slavery, and the exploitation of people
of color—a legacy of racism and injustice that continues to ripple through the food system.
Minority farmers and food producers continue to be underrepresented and under-resourced
in the US food system, facing steep barriers, including access to the land, equipment, and
support needed to be competitive and successful, even though they are often leading the
effort to build sustainable communities and food systems.
What’s in a healthy local system?
Healthy local and regional food systems are built and strengthened through meaningful
relationships between producers and consumers. Access to fresh, nutritious food for
all creates so many positive effects for neighbors’ health and for our local economies.
Public institutions have a huge opportunity to contribute to the health and wealth of their
communities because their budgets can shift so much more money into better systems than
we can do as individuals or families. We’re talking millions of dollars in some cities! Through
supply chains that value and prioritize local, sustainable farmers and businesses as well as
farmers of color, institutions can use their purchasing dollars to steer us toward even stronger
local and regional food economies.
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