As the world’s population has steadily increased, so have our systems of food production and our seemingly insatiable consumption levels. The development of modern agriculture in the U.S. and other industrialized nations has dramatically changed the way in which we grow, process, transport and acquire our food. The distance from farm to table has never been farther, and we now expend ten times more energy getting our food than we do consuming it. In order to offset this imbalance, we must re-localize our food economy and reduce the fossil fuel energy used in growing it by supporting local organic agriculture when buying our food.

To learn more about the impact on our food supply and production and how you can support organizations currently working to address food issues:

Community Alliance with Family Farmers
CAFF is building a movement of rural and urban people to foster family-scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies and promotes social justice.

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Information and resources on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), the sustainable/organic agriculture connection, community food systems and on eating seasonally and regionally. Includes national farm databases, local food directories, surveys, statistics, CSA history, information for farmers and links to other organizations, resources and publications.

Local Harvest
Online resource for finding farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food. Also offers products for sale and a newsletter subscription.

Sustain: the Alliance for Better Food and Farming
Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.

Eat Local Challenge
Eat Local Challenge is community of participants interested in the benefits of eating food grown and produced in their local foodshed. The site explains how local foods are not only better for the environment, and are lower energy consumers, but are better for you.

Organic Consumers Association
The Organic Consumers Association is a grassroots organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children’s health, corporate accountability, fair trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics. They claim to be the only organization in the US focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation’s estimated fifty million organic and socially responsible consumers.