Abstract
A movement to consume fewer processed goods and obtain food from local and regional sources has gained popularity in the last two decades. Local food systems offer several benefits; however, they are not wellsupported by the federal government. The USDA has administered a system of federal agricultural subsidies for nearly a century, but that system powerfully supports a limited group, usually the largest industrial farms growing a small number of crops—none of which include fruits and vegetables. Correspondingly, consumers have gradually shifted their diets to incorporate increasing amounts of subsidized crops and those crops’ byproducts to the detriment of overall national health. One must wonder, could federal agricultural subsidies be employed in a way that better promotes citizens’ best interests by supporting local food systems? This Comment explores the food system structures currently in place, the origin of federal agricultural subsidies, and the USDA’s stated goals for its own direction as an agency. This Comment goes on to propose a reallocation of subsidy resources and other actions that could both accomplish the USDA’s organizational aims and promote national health by bolstering local food systems.
Recommended Citation
Kathrynn D. Johnston, Agriculture on the Move: Proposed Actions to Bolster Local Food Systems, 46 Campbell L. Rev. 137 (2023).