local food marketing practices survey

The Local Food Marketing Practices Survey (LFMPS) dataset is a benchmark resource created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to analyze local and regional food systems. Conducted as part of the Census of Agriculture (e.g., 2015, 2017, 2020), it collects data on how farmers market locally produced agricultural products, including sales channels (e.g., farmers' markets, CSAs, direct-to-consumer), revenue, and value-added products (e.g., cheeses, meats). The 2020 survey reported over 147,000 farms generating $9 billion in local food sales, highlighting trends in direct marketing practices. Purpose: The dataset supports policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders by providing economic insights to shape agricultural policies, business strategies, and regional food system development. It also fulfills mandates under the 2018 Farm Bill to track local food economies. Key Features: - Comprehensive coverage of fresh and value-added food sales. - Granular data on marketing methods, consumer demographics, and farm-scale operations. - Benchmarking capabilities to track changes in local food systems over time. - Integration with broader Census of Agriculture data for contextual analysis. Unique aspects include its role in quantifying the economic impact of local food systems and its use in guiding federal and state-level initiatives to support sustainable agriculture. The dataset is publicly accessible via NASS, enabling analysis of regional trends and market opportunities.