The Options of Buying Local

The Options of Buying Local. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. There really is nothing quite like the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables and for some reason when you know it was grown locally, that just makes it all the better. Consumer interest in local food is creating opportunities for all sizes of farms and markets in Oregon this year. You don't necessarily have to go to a farmers' market to find fresh, local foods this spring and summer. Traditional retailers are increasingly joining direct marketing venues to offer locally grown fruits and vegetables. It all stems from a big jump in consumer interest and demand. HOBBS: Even though for a state like Oregon, which is largely dependent on selling food outside of the state, we've seen some pretty dramatic increases in local consumption and, specifically, farms that are producing for local end markets. Dalton Hobbs, assistant director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, says local foods are not the exclusive domain of farmers' markets and farm stands. HOBBS: Many major retail operations have found there is a benefit in identifying product that is locally produced or sourced locally. They are committed to promoting that to their customers as well. On the grower side, it's the small farms that have traditionally sold to the local fresh market, especially at farmers' markets. But now, larger farms that normally sell their fruits and vegetables exclusively for processing are considering selling a portion of their product to the fresh market, either at farmers' markets or local retail stores. The "buy Oregon" phenomenon is attracting a variety of consumers, growers, and end markets. Hobbs says it may cost more to buy local foods, but that doesn't stop Oregonians from making the purchase. Even people who don't have a large income are willing to spend more to buy local. HOBBS: These are folks that are value consumers. That is they buy locally, spend more of their disposable income on local foods because they believe it's important to do so. Hobbs says there are good opportunities for larger or more traditional farmers to increase profit by considering the buy local phenomenon. HOBBS: Where they may want to take a look at a dual strategy where they produce some product for conventional processed end markets but also can take some product out for local consumption at farmers' market or direct farm sale. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.