(NAPSA)—Nationwide, shoppers are asking questions and becoming more connected to the sources of their food. They browse Tellingly, local food has topped the National Restaurant Association’s Top 10 Consumer Trends list since 2009. The concept of selling agricultural products directly to con- farmers markets, choose farm-to- table dining and spendtheir time and moneyvisiting farms. Adventurous consumers even tend backyard chicken coops, providing themselves with their own source of fresh eggs and poultry; others weigh the advantages of buying organic foods. Whatever specific habits they may have stem from a popular demandfor fresh, locally grown agricultural products. Farmers are producing and selling more crops, livestock and other agricultural products directly to regional outlets and individual consumers than ever before, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Thelatest Census of Agriculture shows that 144,530 farmers nationwide sell their products directly to consumers, accounting for $1.3 billion in food sales. In 2012, 22 percent of products sold directly to consumers came from beginning farmers. “If they sumers is not new. “Communities around the world have local mar- kets, butchers and bakeries for Local food and agritourism sales create jobs and strengthen communities. Plus, 97 percentof U.S. farms are family owned, accord- ing to the latest Agriculture Census. Pictured here: Heather Minter of C&T Produce in Staf- ford, Virginia arranges tomatoes at the USDA Farmers Market in Washington, D.C. margin on farm products and enable farmers to scale up gradually. CSAs and farmers markets are helping thousands of young people make farming a career.” CSA stands for Community-Supported Agriculture. More consumersare also seeking agricultural products from roadside stands, farmers markets and “pick your own” farms. In can get to a town orcity, young fact, the number of farmers mar- Shute, Executive Director of the since 2008, and consumers can select from more than 7,800 farmers wantto sell direct to consumer,” says Lindsey Lusher National Young Farmers Coalition. “Direct sales provide the best kets has grown by 67 percent listed in the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory. fresh foods and local products,” says NASS Administrator Joseph T. Reilly. “In the United States, as consumer demandfor local, farmfresh fruits, vegetables, meats and prepared foods continues to grow, farmers markets help reconnect rural and urban America.” Fans of local food often seek out agritourism as well, since these farmer-to-consumer transactions occur directly on the farm. However, in addition to fresh, locally grown food, agritourism offers consumers the added bonus of spending a day on the farm, where they can pick their own bounty and get a behind-the-barndoors look at how their food is grown. Census data shows agritourism and recreational services from these operations generated $704 million, up 24 percent since 2007. Farmers whosell directly to consumers are not only providing fresh food—they are passing down agricultural knowledge. To learn more about the Agriculture Census, visit www.agcen sus.usda.gov.
