Program on the Environment

In the United States, consumers have separated themselves from the food they eat. Current agricultural systems are now homogenized and food is mass-produced to maximize profit. Large-scale agriculture destroys soil, pollutes the environment, and can harm local communities, so the aim of this paper is to analyze the positive effects of localized food systems and the barriers that are involved in facilitating local food systems. In my internship, I worked with the Carnation Farmers Market to create a cookbook to boost community engagement and funding for the market. Based on a variety of literature and data collection from my internship, I concluded that consuming “local” foods will improve food systems as a whole, which includes the relationship between the consumer and producer, the viability of smaller farms, and the impact on the environment. Through face-to-face interactions with producers, consumers have a deeper knowledge of where their food comes from which improves their relationship and knowledge about their food. Educational programs about food systems also help facilitate a more local network of food consumption, and when local food systems are supported, for example, through farmers markets, local, small-scale farmers can get business directly while interacting with the consumer.