Food is travelling further than ever before, often hundreds of miles from where it was produced to where it is consumed. Family farms, local abattoirs, processing plants, local food distribution systems and small shops are all disappearing, unable to compete in today's global market.

Over-centralisation of food systems has meant the loss of local distinctiveness, traditional varieties, craft production, and a sense of belonging to the community.

As a result, access to fresh and seasonal food is difficult in many communities, leading to poor diets with serious implications for long term health. In addition, money leaks out from local economies as it is siphoned off by distant food businesses.

The Soil Association's local food team is working to reverse this trend. We aim to see increased production, processing, marketing and consumption of local and organic food to create thriving local food economies.

Find out more:

• What is local food and why buy it - How we define local food and what to look for when buying locally

• What we do - more information on the work of the Soil Association local food team [under construction]

• News and events - what is happening in local food

• Information library - for case studies, technical guides, reports and more

• Networks in your area - organisations, networks and projects local to you

• Where can I buy local organic food? - find your local organic farm shop, organic box scheme, farmers' market and much more

• Selling locally - how to develop local food links

• New funding for local food initiatives - grants for local food related projects

• Community Supported Agriculture and Buying Groups project (CSA) - reconnecting people with the farm on which their food is grown

Please note, if you arrived at this page expecting to find the Local Food Works website, this has now been superseded by this section of the Soil Association website.