Locally-grown food and drink is actually benefiting in the recession as people are motivated to support the local economy and preserve jobs in their region, according to a new report.

IGD's Shopper Trends 2009: Food Shopping in a Recession report published last week found 27 per cent of people had bought food produced in their local area in the last month, up from 25 per cent in 2008 and 13 per cent in 2005. Around half the shoppers - 47 per cent - would buy more local produce if availability could be extended.

IGD has put the increase down to willingness to support local producers combined with the expectation local food is fresher.

The report found spending on organic food dropped this year - 19 per cent of people purchased organic food in the previous month, down from 24 in 2008. Even the Prince's Duchy Organics brand has suffered a 15% drop in sales over the last year due to "challenging market conditions". Patrick Holden told Reuters that only food that is both local and organic seems to be holding its own: 'Organic food with a local story is bucking the recession'.

Rita Exner, FARMA Secretary, was quoted in the Birmingham Post on Tuesday 17 February , saying that local food had other attractions which appealed to consumers in a time of economic turmoil. ' People are looking at farmers' markets and farm shops because they know they can get a good quality product and an affordable price. It's also about traceability - people want to know where their food is coming from. It comes back to the people selling it - they are buying from real people they know. People want to simplify their lives and buy from local sources they trust rather than the anonymity of buying a packet from a supermarket.'

From FARMA Spring newsletter 2009