Editing Local food (section)

== Contemporary local food markets ==
{{Further|Online grocer#Impact on the environment}}
In America, local food sales were worth $1.2 billion in 2007, more than doubled from $551 million in 1997. There were 5,274 farmers' markets in 2009, compared to 2,756 in 1998. In 2005, there were 1,144 community-supported agriculture organizations (CSAs). There were 2,095 farm to school programs in 2009.<ref name="Martinez"/> Using metrics such as these, a Vermont-based farm and food advocacy organization, [[Strolling of the Heifers]], publishes the annual Locavore Index, a ranking of the 50 U.S. states plus [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[District of Columbia]]. In the 2016 Index, the three top-ranking states were Vermont, Maine and Oregon, while the three lowest-ranking states were Nevada, Texas and Florida.<ref name="strollingoftheheifers.com">"[http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/locavoreindex/ Strolling of the Heifers 2016 Locavore Index: Which states are most committed to locally-sourced food?]," Strolling of the Heifers</ref>

Websites now exist that aim to connect people to local food growers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Craven |first1=Teri J. |last2=Krejci |first2=Caroline C. |last3=Mittal |first3=Anuj |date=January 2018 |title=Logistics Best Practices for Regional Food Systems: A Review |journal=Sustainability |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=168 |doi=10.3390/su10010168|doi-access=free }}</ref> They often include a map where fruit and vegetable growers can pinpoint their location and advertise their produce.

Supermarket chains also participate in the local food scene. In 2008 [[Walmart]] announced plans to invest $400 million in locally grown produce.<ref name=burros>{{cite news |last=Burros |first=Marian |title=Supermarket Chains Narrow Their Sights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/dining/06local.html |access-date=20 July 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=6 August 2008}}</ref> Other chains, like [[Wegmans|Wegman's]] (a 71-store chain across the northeast), have long cooperated with the local food movement.<ref name=burros/> A recent study led by economist Miguel Gomez found that the supermarket supply chain often did much better in terms of food miles and fuel consumption for each pound compared to farmers markets.<ref>{{cite news |last=Prevor |first=Jim |title=Jim Prevor's Perishable Pundit |url=http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/01/10&pundit=1 |access-date=20 July 2011 |date=1 October 2010}}</ref>