Local food practices and growing potential: Mapping the case of Philadelphia

Local food systems receive increasing attention as a potential solution to problems in the globalized food system, and the promotion of agriculture and urban sustainability. Despite the centrality of geography of place in the study and practice of local food systems, methods of geographical analysis examining local food systems are just beginning to develop. In this paper we argue that spatial research methods are central to the understanding and evaluation of different components of local food systems. We use the city of Philadelphia as an example to explore the socio-spatial structure of the current local food system, and the integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques to estimate land potential for urban food production.

► On average, regional farmers travel 61 miles from farm to a farmers’ market in Philadelphia.
► 53% of the framers’ markets in Philadelphia are located in medium to high income neighborhoods.
► In Philadelphia, 6700 acres in residential lots are potentially available for food production.