Defining Local Food

Purpose: The benefits of local food are multiple and can include environmental, economic, social and community as well as health that are in many ways related to sustainability. Consumers, producers and retailers that make up the local food system can each have a different and conflicting perspective conceptualising local food yet limited studies have simultaneously attempted to communicate all three stakeholders’ perspectives of local food.

To recommend a literature-based framework to investigate the definition of local food from the perspectives of consumers, producers, and retailers. Furthermore, to propose a methodology with which to investigate said framework.

Approach: A review of the literature to address the twin purposes of the paper was undertaken.

Findings: Eriksen’s (2013) three domains of proximity is proposed as a framework with which to investigate the meaning of local food. Eriksen (2013, p.51) outlines that “local food can be understood in terms of three domains of proximity: geographical proximity, relational proximity, and values of proximity” where proximity refers to “… nearness in space, time or relationship …”.

A qualitative constructivist methodology is recommended to construct meaning from the multiple realities of the multiple participants of the local food system.

Implications: This paper offers a framework and methodology to investigate the definition of local food from a multi stakeholder perspective. Enhanced clarity in defining local food could minimise risks of misunderstandings between the different stakeholders, help further local food system development and enable a more efficient response to consumer desires.