One Definition of a Regional Food System
A regional food system is one that increases the availability, consumption, production and access to locally grown and processed foods, while meeting the economic, social, health and environmental needs of the communities within a region.

Resources
This is the beginning of a growing list of resources. The groups listed below are just a few examples of numerous organizations working to promote locally grown foods, providing access to nutritious foods and supporting the local economy.

The Case for Local Regional Food Marketing
This publication examines the opportunities and barriers for creating local and regional food networks.

Making Healthy Food More Accessible for Low-Income People
Farm and Food Project
This background paper addresses access to healthy, nutritious, locally grown food and makes policy recommendations for the Farm Bill.

Ecotrust-Guide to Local and Seasonal Products
The Guide to Local and Seasonal Products matches farmers, ranchers, and fishermen with chefs, retailers, institutions, caterers, and other food buyers who are looking to purchase locally grown foods.

Edible Sacramento
Edible Sacramento provides information and resources in their quarterly magazine and web site to promote locally-grown and locally produced foods in Yolo, Sacramento and Placer Counties.

Edible Shasta-Butte
A quarterly magazine highlighting food from Butte County north to the Oregon border and west to California's coastal range. The magazine features local farmers, vintners, brewmasters, artisan food producers, chefs, and food-related businesses, and tells their stories to promote living in a way that values what is local and seasonal.

Grow Montana
Grow Montana is a broad-based coalition whose common purpose is promoting community economic development policies that support sustainable, Montana-owned food production, processing, and distribution, thereby improving citizens' access to Montana grown foods.

Miracles by the Acre
An article by Small Farm Quarterly highlights Miracles by the Acre CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) located in North Country, New York. This CSA, which is comprised of a small group of women growers has developed a number of innovative marketing strategies. One of their notable programs is their farmer's market which is located in a neighborhood that had limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, Miracles by the Acre operates a Mobile Market to deliver fresh local foods to job sites, hospitals, clinics and areas where people have limited transportation.

BALLE
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is an international alliance of more than 50 independently operated local business networks with more than 15,000 members dedicated to ensuring that economic power resides locally, healthy community life and natural life are sustainable as well as long-term economic viability. BALLE’s mission is to support, connect, and strengthen local, independent businesses dedicated to building living economies, which increase prosperity, fortify community, and ensure environmental health.

Counties and Local Food Systems
This report provides methods and case studies for how local governments can support local food systems.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local
The Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign helps consumers find and choose local products while building relationships between growers, food artisans, farmers’ markets retailers, restaurants, and institutions.

University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Provides research and information to help strenghten connections between farmers, consumers, and communities.

Ag Programs
Partnership Communities
Land Trusts
Sustainable Agriculture
Regional Food Systems
Publications
Events
Links