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The History of Local Foods

roadside stand
Photo: canva.com

The term local foods has gained a lot of popularity recently with the consumer demand of buying foods from local farmers and ranchers. But this concept is not new and dates back at least 100 years.

Roadside stands and farmers markets have stood the test of time in their popularity. Passers-by simply stop and purchase fresh produce or other items. From simple roadside signs of products for sale, to established buildings with tables or shelves, this form of sales still functions today.

When the mail service expanded to rural communities in the early 1900s, the ability to ship items from the producer to consumer opened the channels of commerce without other merchants or private shipping companies. This was the beginning of the farm-to-table or farm-to-city initiative.

Learn the history at https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/ipd/localfoods/

 

About Karen Blakeslee

The Rapid Response Center was formed in 1995 as a resource for Kansas State University Research & Extension Agents. Resource topics included Food Science, Human Nutrition, Food Service, Textiles, Home Care and other consumer topics. Since that time, the Center has grown to be of valuable assistance to Kansas State University Extension Specialists in those areas.