Local Foodsheds/Local Prosperity

A foodshed is a geographic area where vegetables and fruits, nuts and oils, meat and grains feed citizens within the region. Foodsheds make it easier to answer: Where does my food come from? Foodsheds include farmers markets, community supported agriculture, sales to local restaurants and institutions, and farm-to-table programs. La Montanita Co-op has a foodshed of 100 to 300 miles from Albuquerque Foodsheds also a strategic frame for action. They encourage a local food economy, favor organic, diverse and low-input farming over high-input and factory farms, work for seasonal extension of production, and strive to keep all steps in the food system (growers, processors, wholesalers and retailers) within the foodshed. They inspire more locavores. Foodsheds operate seasonally unless storage facilities exist. Most food today comes from trade outside the foodshed. Map displays the direct sales of food that sty within the agro-ecoregion (now less than 3% even in the best region).

Dream: Sell 20 to 25% locally grown and value-added foods by 2025.