Louisville Ranks High For Local Food Access Amid Rising Demand For Farmers Markets

As supermarket prices grow and trade regulations continue to evolve, more Americans are reevaluating where their food comes from—and in Louisville, access to local food is already ahead of the curve.

Recent research from Trace One, a food industry software company, places the Louisville/Jefferson County metro region in the top 10 large U.S. cities for local food availability, with 4.5 farmers markets, on-farm markets, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs per 100,000 residents. That’s significantly above the national average of 3.1 and positions Louisville 8th overall among major metros.

In total, the area offers 61 such businesses, offering inhabitants a broad choice of opportunities to buy produce and commodities directly from local farms.

Health and Community Drive Demand

Trace One’s April 2025 Local Food Survey states that nearly two-thirds of American adults consider health as extremely or very important when making food choices. Nearly half also consider where their food is obtained in relation to their health.

“People are becoming more intentional about what they eat and where it comes from,” said a spokesman from Trace One. “This isn’t just about avoiding processed food—it’s about supporting local economies and knowing your farmer.”

For many, such support is extremely personal. About 38% of Americans listed “supporting local businesses” as the top reason for buying local, suggesting a strong desire to keep cash circulating close to home.

In March, a private donor gave $300,000 to support “food justice” in Louisville’s West End through Change Today, Change Tomorrow. The money, according to founder and Executive Director of CTCT, Taylor Ryan, will go directly to the market in bolstering its access to even more fresh food for the community.

“In a moment when federal dollars are drying up and public investment in communities like ours continues to fall short, this international act of solidarity reminds us that individuals—especially those with generational wealth—have a role to play in resourcing liberation,” said Ryan in March. “We are shifting from begging institutions to calling in those who believe in redistributing their privilege and investing in community-led systems.”

Price Matters—But So Does Purpose

While many customers are ready to pay a premium for local food, many still draw the line. The survey indicated that the majority are okay paying up to 5–10% more, but just 7.1% said they’d go beyond that. Roughly one-third stated they aren’t willing to pay any extra at all.

Despite this, Louisville locals have access to local food sources that may offer more competitive pricing than expected—particularly when cutting out intermediaries in direct-to-consumer situations like farmers markets and CSAs.

Louisville’s median household income—$68,921—is below the national average of $77,719, demonstrating that affordability is still top of mind for many families in the city. Yet local food participation remains strong: nearly three-quarters of Americans shop at farmers markets at least occasionally, and 25% say they go regularly during peak seasons.

Traditional Retail Still Plays a Role

Even as farmers markets increase foot traffic this spring, most Americans still rely on supermarkets for local foods. About 67.5% of survey respondents indicated they normally purchase local food at traditional grocery shops, demonstrating that large merchants have a role to play in broadening access to local products.

Still, direct-to-consumer methods continue to gain momentum. Beyond markets, roughly 20% of buyers buy straight from farms or roadside booths, while CSA programs—though less common—are gaining attention for their convenience and seasonality.

Local Strength in a National Landscape

While Vermont, Minnesota, and other smaller states dominate the ranks in farmers markets per capita, Louisville’s excellent status among large metro areas reflects both the region’s agricultural roots and its growing dedication to food accessibility.

Compared to Southern and Southwestern states like Texas and Florida, which rank at the bottom for local food access, Louisville is an outlier—a Southern metropolis with strong Midwestern values and a dynamic network of food producers and buyers who support them.

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This article appears in Apr 11-24, 2025.

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