Since the end of World War II, we've witnessed the consolidation of nearly every aspect of our food system. Across the country, the vital local infrastructures that once supported and fed communities, that took decades to build, have been dismantled. Towns have watched their slaughterhouses, supermarkets, butchers, dairies and bakeries simply disappear. The question is how do we usher in a period of reform? To usher in a period or reform you need a counter movement, a social movement powerful enough to force us to institute reforms.
One option?
Economies of community: Economies focused on networks of farms, highly local distribution channels and motivated consumers. These are ways to build healthy local food systems. While an industrialized food system is highly centralized and benefits from economies of scale. Local food systems benefit from economies of community.
Three principles of EOC:
1. Transparent equal access to information
2. Democratized equal voice and ability to take action
3. Frictionless simple transactions and feedback
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In this picture: Benzi Ronen from Farmigo
Learn more in this short film.
Benzi Ronen is the founder of Farmigo, which acts as a platform for food entrepreneurs to launch their own farmers markets and management software tools to farms. In this film, Ronen explains how the principle of economies of community can help connect people while rebuilding local food systems.
A farmer's advice on supporting local food in communities you visit
Recipe: Spinach with Sesame Dressing
How do you support local food communities? Share with us on our Facebook page or Twitter.
For the past three years, the Lexicon of Sustainability has sought out the foremost practitioners of sustainability in food and farming to gain their insights and experiences on this important subject. What began as a photography project to spread their knowledge has grown to include short films, study guides, traveling shows, a book, and a website where people can add their own terms to this ever-evolving lexicon. See more at www.lexiconofsustainability.com.
