Linking Small Farms to Rural Communities with Local Food: A Case Study of the Local Food Project in Fairbury, Illinois

Abstract

The literature on sustainability and local food systems often takes for granted a positive impact on rural communities. This paper attempts to interrogate this notion through a systematic evaluation of a local food system project in Central Illinois, Using case studies and survey research, this paper focuses on an innovative relationship forged between farmers and a local independently owned supermarket in a small rural community, which created an “indoor farmers' market” inside the store. This growing group of farmers committed to providing their community with food grown using sustainable farming practices, while the grocery store owners committed to the project to support local farmers and as a competitive marketing strategy. Although one key measurement of the success of this business relationship is evident in the doubling of local produce sales within the store each year, benefits are accruing beyond the economic impacts. Based on the “Fairbury Local Food Project” we recommend nine key elements of success that can be used to measure impacts and evaluate the success of local food system projects in rural communities.

Keywords:

• Local food systems
• rural communities
• sustainable agriculture
• direct-market agriculture