As demand for locally produced food grows, grocery stores are struggling to find sources of that food. The food is out there, but the buying models of the larger grocery is often incompatible with the small farmer. Currently, most producers of local food are small farms, which may not be able to fill the volume, price or regular delivery demands of a typical grocery store chain.
What may seem as a problem for the local food movement may be an opportunity for small independent grocers who may not require large volumes of product and may be more flexible on delivery than the large supermarkets. Small grocers can partner with local farmers to carry the “most” locally grown and identity preserved foods. In fact smaller volumes and more frequent delivery often mean fresher product on the shelves for consumers.
Some grocers are using labels to identify and feature their locally grown foods. The label listing “grown _x_ miles from here” might be very effective. By leveraging the advantages of being small, grocers might be more competitive on local food than larger chains. By marketing to the right demographic the “mom and pop” grocer may make a healthy comeback in the local economy.
