Consumers who want locally grown food have expanded the market for selling vegetables and other agricultural products to restaurants and groceries, LSU AgCenter experts advised small producers here Wednesday (Sept. 30).
Speaking at a MarketReady workshop, LSU AgCenter economist John Westra said surveys have shown that the demand for local food is increasing.
“There are a lot of people who value knowing who produced their food,” Westra said. “It’s an opportunity for you to take advantage of.”
Establishing a relationship with buyers for restaurants and groceries is critical. “You need to build a line of communication,” he said. “Most of them want to know if there’s something available locally.”