Local Food System

Buying directly from farmers increases transparency by allowing families to ask how food is grown. CSAs help farmers predict demand and give consumers fresher food while reducing middlemen. Local sourcing is framed as a way for children to understand that food comes from soil, farmers, animals, and seasons. Small farming is portrayed as valuable but difficult and labor-intensive. Irrigation is described as supporting dry-season crop production and increasing produce availability for household consumption. Backyard gardening is said to improve household access to diverse foods throughout the year. Low fruit and oil crop production is described as a structural constraint on dietary diversity. Community Supported Agriculture is explained as a subscription-like system where families pay farmers and receive seasonal produce. Cereal production dominated farming across all three study regions. The local food system is framed as a key lever for improving dietary quality. CSAs and farmers markets are practical options for families who cannot run or live on a farm.