Exploring the Barriers within the Local Food Movement: A Case Study of Boulder County, Colorado

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Citations

Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/mk61rh32q

Abstract

The Local Food Movement (LFM) has been heralded by many as the best Alternative Food Network; providing a sustainable approach to food production. However, success of LFMs depends largely on reducing the number of barriers for member participation. What is local food and what does the LFM look like in a specific community context? This paper seeks to answer these questions in Boulder County, Colorado and the possible difficulties the LFM encounters within this community. This study aims to broaden the understanding of these barriers locally and in other communities interested in supporting a LFM by contributing to additional data to overcoming LFM barriers present communities. The approach used for data collection was multiple case studies. Between November, 2012 and March, 2013, eight participants that represented educational, production, and distribution components of the LFM in Boulder County were interviewed. The findings of this study are the LFM in Boulder County has a strong reliance on community, varied perceptions as to what local food is and a lack of shared knowledge on LFM issues that affect perceptions issues and problems.

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