Local Food and Community Development

Food has become an essential component in community development practice. Whether in reference to building a local or regional food system or addressing food insecurity, food has become a focus in community development approaches in many localities. Farmers markets, community gardens, farm-to-school programs, and other food-centered initiatives have been used to foster community development processes across a spectrum of desired outcomes. The surging interest in food for fostering community development draws attention to numerous applications, ranging from grassroots efforts to formal programs sponsored by the public or nonprofit sectors. These efforts are often in conjunction with local private businesses, helping create micro-businesses and supporting the small farm movement. Some regions are even considering economic development strategies of "food clusters" to promote speciality food businesses and supporting programs.

This volume explores the relationships between food and community, and the various approaches for development through a selection of chapters illustrating a wide range of applications.

This book is a compilation of articles published in the journal Community Development.

Gary Paul Green is a professor in the Department of Community & Environmental Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a community development specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. His teaching and research interests are primarily in the areas of community and economic development.

Rhonda G. Phillips, Ph.D., AICP, CEcD is Associate Dean for Barrett, The Honors College and a professor at Arizona State University’s School of Community Resources & Development. Her research and service outreach includes assessing community well-being and quality-of-life outcomes. She teaches courses on local food systems and community development.