The purpose of this study is to examine the current situation of the local food movement and explore ways to build a local food system from the standpoint of distribution of agricultural products. To this end, this study summarized the background, scope, and contents of the local food movement in various countries, such as “Jisan Jishou (local production for local consumption)” of Japan, “Slow Food” of Italy, and “Community Supported Agriculture” of the U.S. “Local food” or “local food movement” signifies a new relationship that seeks sustainability of production and consumption of food, rather than a concept focused on specificity of a region.
For some examples of local food marketing in Korea, this study examined an early morning market in Wonju, Gangwon Province, a farmers' market in Chungju, Chungbuk Province, and a local food package delivery project of a women farmers' association. The sales activities of the local food movement are centered around active marketing by producers, but the purchase patterns of consumers vary greatly depending on the content of consumption. In the case of early morning markets and farmers' markets, which are physically close to producers and consumers, agricultural products are sold through simple transactions; but in the case of the local food package delivery service, which is based on contractual transactions, active participation by consumers plays a key role in the conclusion of a transaction. As for the examples of local food being provided to schools, this study examined Naju City in Jeonnam Province and Yangpyeong County in Gyeonggi Province, and found that it costs less to supply school meals in Yangpyeong than in Naju since a same supplier makes a tour in the same region to collect and distribute food supplies. It is true that despite many benefits the use of local agricultural produce for school meals is not properly established because the amount of agricultural produce consumed is small and the local distribution system is not properly maintained.
Since the food self-sufficiency rate of Korea in terms of calorie intake stands at mere 48.7% as of 2008, it is difficult to supply all food items with local produce even if one desires to build a local food supply system ambitiously. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare ways that can reduce the social distance, rather than the physical distance, between producers and consumers, and provide services that are not provided by the existing agricultural distribution system, but are needed by producers and consumers alike.
Thus, in order to earn the support of consumers through the local food movement and meet the demand for agricultural products, it is necessary that producers and consumers have common understanding of local agriculture. In order to establish a local food system, it is necessary to create a consultative body that can check the basics of a local food system, raise the competency of key players of the food system (from production to distribution, processing, and consumption), and solve problems that may occur at different times on item basis. The producer-to-consumer relationship should be restored, and only then can an action plan be drawn up through consultation.
Support for local food should be provided only when one can clearly identify the target of support (such as local producers and consumer organizations) for sustainable agriculture. In principle, the support for local food should be provided to software first, rather than hardware, in the form of material support by the decision of a consultative body. Also, information exchange forums should be prepared to connect production with consumption.
Such support measures are to encourage sound consumption and promote consumer movement for sustainable development of local community.


Researchers: Jeong, Eun-Mee
Research period: 2010. 10. - 2011. 2.
E-mail address: jeongem@krei.re.kr