Obama Administration announces additional support to help communities boost local food economies

On behalf of the White House Rural Council, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced Local Food, Local Places, a federal initiative that will provide direct technical support to rural communities to help them build strong local food systems as part of their community's economic action plans. Under this effort, a team of agricultural, transportation, environmental and regional economic experts will work directly with local communities to develop comprehensive strategies that use local food systems to meet a variety of needs. The announcement, made during the White House Rural Council's first live-streamed meeting, included Vilsack, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe, Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chairman Earl Gohl; and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill. "Buying locally is one of the best things a community can do to grow its economy. Partnerships like Local Food, Local Places help rural leaders develop strategies for promoting farm products grown by people right in their own communities," said Secretary Vilsack. "The demand for local food is growing rapidly nationwide, creating more opportunities for American farmers and ranchers and growing the entire country's rural economy."...more

In 1994 there were 1,755 farmer's markets in the U.S.  By 2013 there were 8,144.  They seem to be growing just fine, which means this whole "federal initiative" is nothing but: