In an era bustling with international trade and people on the move, local food has become increasingly important as American consumers turn to simple, quality, and organic foods. Selling Local, co-authored by Indiana University Department of Anthropology Professor of Practice Jennifer Meta Robinson and Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington Assistant Professor James Farmer, is an indispensable guide to community-based food movements, showcasing the broad appeal and impact of farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture programs, and food hubs. This book explores both the idea of selling local—its appeal and promise—and the practical ways this happens in the dynamic context of the twenty-first century.

Drawing on prodigious fieldwork and research, experts Robinson and Farmer unlock the passion for and promise of local food movements. This book examines the benefits to a community from local produce, the compelling charm of multi-generational farmers’ markets, and the response of the grocery store giants. Selling Local persuasively shows how much these food movements deeply matter to all of us.

James Farmer is Assistant Professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies in the School of Public Health at Indiana University where he focuses his scholarship and service on community food systems and natural resource sustainability.

Jennifer Meta Robinson is Professor of Practice in the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University where she teaches courses in communication, culture, and pedagogy. She has been formally studying local food since 2005, publishing numerous articles, book chapters, and The Farmers’ Market Book: Growing Food, Cultivating Community.