A locavore is a person interested in eating food that is locally produced, not moved long distances to market. The locavore movement in the United States and elsewhere was spawned as interest in sustainability and eco-consciousness became more prevalent. The word “locavore” was the word of the year for 2007 in the Oxford American Dictionary.

Buying locally grown agricultural products benefits the local community and the local economy while helping to protect the environment. It also helps establish relationships with local farmers and helps connect you with the farms and the products you eat.

In addition, buying from local farms allows local farms to earn a reasonable living which helps preserve the farms, meaning they are less likely to sell to developers.

Local food or the local food movement is a “collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies – one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place.