Supporting and expanding local markets can positively impact farm profitability and create jobs through production, processing and retailing.
According to the 2007 Empire State Poll by the Cornell University Survey Research Institute, 78.5% of the New York State residents age 18 and older surveyed buy local foods and 37.4% said they went out of their way to buy local food.
Tapping into the consumer market interested in local foods can benefit farmers and consumers directly, and a more localized food economy provides more choice in the marketplace, maintains a working landscape, and reduces the vulnerability of a highly centralized food supply.
The North Country Regional Foods Initiative was started by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties and the Economic Development Administration University Center at Cornell’s Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) to understand and document how local food businesses and activities benefit the northern NY region and identify strategies for enhancing those benefits.
Research on local foods includes:
Assessing the Success of Farmers’ Markets in NNY, 2009
Determinants of Vendor Success in Farmers’ Markets in Upstate NY, 2008
Enhancing Local and Regional Food Systems: Exploring the Research, What Works, and What We Need to Learn, 2009
Exploring Regional Food Systems: A North Country Example, 2009
Research Report on the Impacts of Local and Regional Foods in the Adirondack-North Country Region, 2008:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Market Outlets
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Farm/Food Business Economics
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Training and Educational Resources
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Collaborations
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Roles of Local/Regional Food Businesses in NNY
Impact Analysis Research Briefs: Organizational Support
Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendices: Farm/Food Business Case Study
Appendices: Organization Interview Protocol
Appendices: A Select History of Local Food Events in NNY
Fact Sheet 1: The Agricultural Geography of the Adirondack-North Country Region
Fact Sheet 2: Local Food and Agriculture Trends
Fact Sheet 3: Potential Community Impacts of Regional Foods
Fact Sheet 4: Regional Food Processing Trends
The Role of Adirondack North Country Foods in Community and Economic Development, Tupper Lake, 2008
Local Food Diet and Health Considerations
The Value of Farmers Markets: Economic, Social, Community Building
Internet Marketing Opportunity
Farm to Chef Express Project
Growing the Local Food Economy in NNY One Maple Tap at a Time
Connecting Local Foods with Health and Well-being Part I
Connecting Local Foods with Health and Well-being Part II
Local Food in Our Future
Land Use and Agricultural Economic Development: The Policy Connection
Policy Forum & Action Steps