(posted by ADW; thesis written by David S. Simmons)
MEASURING AND UNDERSTANDING LOCAL FOODS: THE CASE OF VERMONT
A Thesis Presented by David S. Timmons to The Faculty of the Graduate College of The University of Vermont
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Specializing in Community Development and Applied Economics
Abstract:
Across the United States there is increased interest in local foods, as seen in the renaissance of farmers’ markets and other forms of direct sales from farmers to consumers. Nationally, real direct sales increased more than 50% between 1992 and 2002 (after adjusting for inflation), to over $812 million annually. Hundreds of initiatives and projects around the country promote local food. In the northeast, every state department of agriculture supports some kind of buy-local initiative. Such efforts would benefit from more and better data about local food; evaluating and assessing the efficacy of local food programs depends on such data. Yet local food data are not readily available, and there is no systematic way of tracking local food use at regional, state or community levels.
This thesis first describes a local food movement in Vermont, and possible benefits associated with food localization. It then reviews previous Vermont local food studies for clues about the state’s production potential, and looks to agricultural location theory and consumer research on local food for explanations about why food might or might not be local in any particular place.
Based on a review of methods used in measuring food self-sufficiency and local food, this study presents a method for estimating local food consumption, comparing results from Vermont to the fifty United States. An upper bound on Vermont local food consumption is 38%, based on in-state production, while a lower bound is 1.2%, based on per-capita direct sales from farmers to consumers.
Regression models are then used to help understand how direct sales vary at the state and county levels around the country. On a per capita basis, Vermont has the highest direct sales in the United States, at more than five times the national average. But the county-level regression models for Vermont suggest that direct sales in the state could still be increased substantially.
This research fills a gap in knowledge about local food, which is increasingly promoted, though little understood.
-------------------------
Timmons' thesis covers the following topics, including Current Vermont Local Food Efforts, Defining Local Food, Self Sufficiency Studies, Measuring Local Food, Transportation Data, and information on Farm size, Population, Geographical area and Available farmland.
As Timmons admits in his conclusion, this research raises additional questions concerning the realities of local food production in Vermont; it is, however, a good starting place for those interested in understanding the economic, geographical, land use and dietary considerations involved in determining how best to create a sustainable, local food system in the state. You can read the entire document here (pdf warning).
MEASURING AND UNDERSTANDING LOCAL FOODS: THE CASE OF VERMONT
A Thesis Presented by David S. Timmons to The Faculty of the Graduate College of The University of Vermont
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Specializing in Community Development and Applied Economics
Abstract:
Across the United States there is increased interest in local foods, as seen in the renaissance of farmers’ markets and other forms of direct sales from farmers to consumers. Nationally, real direct sales increased more than 50% between 1992 and 2002 (after adjusting for inflation), to over $812 million annually. Hundreds of initiatives and projects around the country promote local food. In the northeast, every state department of agriculture supports some kind of buy-local initiative. Such efforts would benefit from more and better data about local food; evaluating and assessing the efficacy of local food programs depends on such data. Yet local food data are not readily available, and there is no systematic way of tracking local food use at regional, state or community levels.
This thesis first describes a local food movement in Vermont, and possible benefits associated with food localization. It then reviews previous Vermont local food studies for clues about the state’s production potential, and looks to agricultural location theory and consumer research on local food for explanations about why food might or might not be local in any particular place.
Based on a review of methods used in measuring food self-sufficiency and local food, this study presents a method for estimating local food consumption, comparing results from Vermont to the fifty United States. An upper bound on Vermont local food consumption is 38%, based on in-state production, while a lower bound is 1.2%, based on per-capita direct sales from farmers to consumers.
Regression models are then used to help understand how direct sales vary at the state and county levels around the country. On a per capita basis, Vermont has the highest direct sales in the United States, at more than five times the national average. But the county-level regression models for Vermont suggest that direct sales in the state could still be increased substantially.
This research fills a gap in knowledge about local food, which is increasingly promoted, though little understood.
-------------------------
Timmons' thesis covers the following topics, including Current Vermont Local Food Efforts, Defining Local Food, Self Sufficiency Studies, Measuring Local Food, Transportation Data, and information on Farm size, Population, Geographical area and Available farmland.
As Timmons admits in his conclusion, this research raises additional questions concerning the realities of local food production in Vermont; it is, however, a good starting place for those interested in understanding the economic, geographical, land use and dietary considerations involved in determining how best to create a sustainable, local food system in the state. You can read the entire document here (pdf warning).
Comment/Rate Share this Article Subscribe