Cultivating Opportunities: Canada’s Growing Appetite for Local Food

The increasing interest in local food in Canada has been driven by concerns about food quality, health and nutrition, food safety, local economies and farmers, and the environment. Local food systems have a significant economic impact in Canada. Local food can create opportunities for firms throughout the food system—for example, it can bring higher margins for producers and allow businesses to differentiate themselves from their competition. However, local food creates challenges for some businesses, particularly those that deal in large volumes of product and rely on economies of scale to be competitive. Cultivating Opportunities: Canada’s Growing Appetite for Local Food evaluates the drivers behind local food; examines the economic impact of local food systems in Canada and the challenges and opportunities local food poses for consumers, governments, and industry; highlights successful local food initiatives throughout the food supply chain; and recommends strategies to optimize local food systems.