Local Food Initiatives in Tobacco Transitions of the Southeastern United States

In the wake of significant changes in the U.S. tobacco market, state and regional agricultural economic development agencies have promoted production for local markets as a post-tobacco alternative. Through an analysis of direct sales data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture, this study evaluates whether local food systems initiatives in formerly tobacco-dependent counties in three states (Maryland, Kentucky, and North Carolina) have strengthened relationships between producers and consumers over the decade 1997 and 2007. Results suggest that local food, directmarketing initiatives have been most successful in Southern Maryland, though have yet to replace revenues lost due to the end of tobacco production. In central Kentucky and central North Carolina, direct sales have been only a small part in tobacco-transition recoveries which can be largely attributed to a switch to livestock production.