Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Local Eating Is Growing in Popularity Carol Smith 10

2 The Local Food Movement Benefits Farms, Food Production, Environment Pallavi Gogoi 17

3 Local Food Is Not Always the Best Choice Pamela Cuthbert 24

4 Buying Local Is Better for Both Local and Global Economies Carlo Petrini 31

5 Organic Food and Farming Has Drawbacks Steven Shapin 44

6 Buying Local Food Protects Regional Flavors and Traditions Gary Paul Nabhan 53

7 Local Food Is Not Necessarily Better for the Environment Sarah DeWeerdt 60

8 Food Production Causes More Environmental Damage than Food Miles Robin McKie 71

9 Buying Local Is Good for the Consumer, the Farmer, and the Planet Brian Halweil 80

10 The Distance Food Travels Is Damaging to the Environment Marc Xuereb 85

11 Follow That French Fry: Food Miles and Roadway Damage Gretchen Stoeltje 89

12 Political Forces Make It Difficult for Local Food Economies to Succeed Michael Pollan Rod Dreher 113

13 Government Regulations Favor Big Industrial, Not Small Local, Farms Megan Phelps Joel Salatin 123

Organizations to Contact 138

Bibliography 145

Index 150