The industrial food system of the West is increasingly perceived as problematic. The physical social and intellectual distance between consumers and their food stems from a food system that privileges quantity and efficiency over quality with an underlying assumption that food is a commodity rather than a source of nourishment and pleasure. In the wake of various food and health scares there is a growing demand from consumers to change the food they eat which in turn acts as a catalyst for the industry to adapt and for alternative systems to evolve. Drawing on a wealth of empirical research into mainstream and alternative North American food systems this book discusses how sustainable grass roots local food systems offer a template for meaningful individual activism as a way to bring about change from the bottom up while at the same time creating pressure for policy changes at all levels of government. This movement signals a shift away from market economy principles and reflects a desire to embody social and ecological values as the foundation for future growth. Language: English