As new regions learn about the benefits of sustainable agriculture, the local food movement is spreading like wild fire. But many don't realize that a key part of local food is also local ownership of food businesses. A new study set out to investigate this relationship between a community's local food and their economy. The research team recognized 24 "community food enterprises" from around the world, who are innovative examples of this successful correlation. The results overwhelmingly proved that a local food system is a powerful competitive advantage for every consumer and business, alike. 12 businesses were chosen from the United States, including the White Dog Café, located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

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Among the many findings, this assessment has shown that:

-A local food economy spurs better stewardship, community spirit, and social change in an area
-Local food and ownership also stimulates local income, wealth, jobs, taxes, charitable contributions, tourism, and entrepreneurship

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More results and findings are located at the Community Food Enterprise website. You can also find more background information about our local CFE, The White Dog Café, on the site as well.

A story in the New York Times yesterday highlighted some bigger players jumping on the Buy Local Bandwagon (or should we say "Potato Wagon?"), with a focus on a new marketing campaign for Lay's potato chips:

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Five different ads will highlight farmers who grow some of the two billion pounds of starchy chipping potatoes the Frito-Lay company uses each year. One is Steve Singleton, who tends 800 acres in Hastings, Fla.

"We grow potatoes in Florida, and Lays makes potato chips in Florida," he says in the ad. "It's a pretty good fit."

Mr. Singleton's ad and the other four will be shown only in the farmer's home state. A national spot featuring all five potato farmers begins next week.

Frito-Lay is one of several big companies that, along with some large-scale farming concerns, are embracing a broad interpretation of what eating locally means. This mission creep has the original locavores choking on their yerba mate. But food executives who measure marketing budgets in the millions say they are mining the concept because consumers care more than ever about where their food comes from.

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Read the full story at NYTimes.com

And then let us know what you think.  Is this a step in the right direction or a ridculous spin job?