The demand for local food is exceeding the infrastructure says a new report from the USDA's Economic Research Service, titled Direct and Intermediated Marketing of Local Foods in the United States.

Louisiana's legislature is considering a bill that would offer financial rewards to area restaurants that use locally grown fruits and vegetables in their menu items.

With high unemployment and high grocery prices, even the most successful New Yorkers are taking a hit, so you can imagine what kind of state the low income families are in. It’s no secret that many low income neighborhoods lack in fresh food markets and for that reason have been linked to obesity for years. So in an effort to supplement wholesome, fresh meals to low income families, New York City Greenmarkets have been accepting food stamps for quite a while. However, with more NYers out of work, last year the purchases doubled to half a million in sales.

It’s great for the economy too. Local growers and businesses get eager customers, ready to snap of homegrown goodies.

And this Fourth of July, Kitchen Gardeners International, the folks who led the efforts to plant a garden on the White House lawn, encouraged governors from all 50 states to declare their food independence and eat more local food.

A spokesperson for the group said buying food grown close to home helps cut the United States’ dependence on foreign producers and growers.

Here’s an example. Most of the garlic used in the U.S. is grown in China. So buying local garlic might encourage more domestic farmers to grow it and eventually drop our dependence on Chinese garlic.

Lucky for me, I just got some organic garlic from my CSA.

And local food tastes better. One expert says most tomatoes in the United States are picked green and are not bred for flavor or nutrient quality, but rather for uniform shape and color. That’s why I grow my own giant tomatoes!

Via Eat, Drink and Be Healthy.

“Local, affordable, nutritious food should be a right for everyone and not just a privilege for a few,” wrote Alice Waters, acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and food activist in a letter to the White House in January, 2009.

A couple of months earlier at a Chicago fundraiser - which featured an Alice Waters-created menu - Michelle opined "You can't just make a dinner. It's got to be a nutritious dinner, grown with good, fresh, clean food. That takes time. Trust me."

I couldn’t agree with these two fabulous women more. The time has come for healthier, more nutrition-rich food – that’s local, seasonal and organic when possible – to take center stage for our country. What better place to start than with an edible garden?

Groundbreaking Gardening!

The first family is off to a running start when it comes to promoting homegrown eats.

Michelle Obama, an excited group of fifth graders and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack got to work planting a brand new vegetable garden on Thursday, 4/9.

The first sprout hasn’t poked its way through the soil yet, but already, the White House garden - championed by Michelle Obama’s enthusiasm for fresh and healthy food – has several fantastic messages for an under-nourished public that I’ve long espoused:

• Home gardening offers a great way to save money on expensive foods at the market – a tasty stimulus package for your kitchen!

• Home gardening inspires kids to eat their veggies: studies have shown that kids who grow their own vegetables eat more vegetables!

• It’s also a wonderful reason to get outdoors, rejuvenate your soul and reconnect with nature, something we can all benefit from both physically and mentally.

There’s a history of White House gardens. But with the publicity power of Michelle Obama, Slow Food enthusiast Alice Waters and countless other organic foodies, this administration is positioned to get the messages to the masses: grow your own, save money, have fun and eat healthily!

My Own Edible Garden and Get-Started Gardening Tips for You!

When my husband and I moved into our home, we were debating how to landscape our front yard. I suggested we plant an edible garden in both our front and our back yard, including my favorite - scrumptious organic artichokes!

Year after year, our edible garden has reaped us huge rewards in delivering organic produce. It has saved us tons of cash at check-out and made us quite popular on our block: families with children regularly stop to admire our front yard edible garden!

Plus, we’re reminding children about the origin of fruits and veggies – and that they come from the earth first – not just from the supermarket. In this way, my husband and I feel like we’re adding something to the community, which is a great feeling!

Here’s some tips for the beginning gardener. Already have an edible garden? What works for you and what doesn’t? Share your story with OrganicAuthority readers – we’d love to hear from you!