Local Food Systems and Community Economic Development

Local Food Systems and Community Economic Development provides scholarly and practical knowledge on a range of issues often associated with local food system development.

Many people agree that there are unintended consequences associated with the manner in which our food supply chain has evolved. These concerns range in focus from health, to environment, to economic structure, to social justice. But, for each argument critical of our current food system, there are to be found strong counter-arguments; the popular press is replete with stories that lean toward taking specific sides in these arguments, often demonizing those on the other side. In this volume local food scholars strive to be fair, balanced, and as factual as possible in their arguments. This even-handed approach is appropriate as it should foster more sustainable community change and should lead us toward a stronger foundation for scholarly inquiry and ultimately more respect and credibility for efforts to better understand the phenomenon of local and regional food system development.

Amidst a deepening interest in local food systems as a community economic development strategy, Local Food Systems and Community Economic Development will be of great interest to scholars of community development, rural studies, agriculture, food systems, and rural economy. The chapters originally published as a special issue of Community Development.

R. David Lamie is a Professor at Clemson University where his work focuses on agricultural and regional development with an emphasis on next generation farmer development, agritourism, regional food systems, and niche market development for specialty crops.

Steven C. Deller is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Community Development Specialist with the Division of Extension. His research focuses on trying to understand the changing rural economy with an emphasis on identifying strategies that can improve local economic conditions.