Locally schmocally

The local food movement continues to get a ton of press this summer. This isn't surprising because the runup in fuel prices set up local vegetable and fruit deals to have greater demand this season. The emergence of "local produce" at supermarkets brings to mind a couple of questions, however.

How do consumers trained to look for local food react when "local produce" is no longer available? Do they cut back on their purchases of produce?
How does the halo effect of pristine food safety in local produce impact the sales of not-so-local fresh produce from other regions?
When most supermarkets have local produce to offer, what is the next competitive advantage that can be wrought from the locavore movement? Or does the mere fact that "local produce" is so widely available eventually reduce its appeal?
Is the food safety "double standard" (the heavier hand of regulation on larger firms compared with local food producers) a potential threat to consumer perceptions of local food?

Here is some recent coverage of local foods:

Wal Mart local produce Web site

Locavores promote locally grown fruits and vegetables

Local food: better for the conscience but not the wallet

Area colleges aim to provide local food

Why the hype about local food may be more than just a trend