Local food innovations are nothing new, but the way in which entrepreneurs market and create ways for communities to consume food, buy groceries and cook meals is constantly changing. Generally speaking, the idea of eating locally, that is, as a movement, only came about in the early 21st century as a reaction to corporate farming practices and global capitalism. More specifically, the 100-mile diet and its many offshoots have encouraged urban dwellers to challenge import practices, which creates an environment in which food travels hundreds of miles before it ends up on your table.
From two-wheeled drive-ins to ethical gastropubs and kitchen gardens, consider this Social Business top list of local food innovations the next time you shop for delicious goodies.
24 Local Food Innovations
24
Upscale Border Town Restaurants
Chef Javier Plascencia Brings Fine Dining to Tijuana, Mexico
23
Foods as Barcodes
Belgian Food Banks 'Donate a Barcode' Ads Help to Feed the Hungry
22
Urban Foraging
Eating Local Goes Inner City As Pedestrians Pluck Food From Trees
21
Solid Spicy Invitations
The Ray Lemon Bar in Germany Sends Delicious Invites
20
Community-Driven Produce Projects
Just Food Gives Access to Healthy Foods in Underserved Urbanity
19
Subscription Soup Deliveries
SoupCycle Brings Portland Organic Locavore Meals Via Bicycle
18
Kitchen Gardens
The Herb Pot by Toyokitchin & Living Corporation
17
Impromptu Urban Markets
Stockbox Grocers Create Petite City-Friendly Food Stores
16
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
15
Seasonal Vegetable Deliveries
Growing Places Enterprise Makes It Easy to Eat Local and Organic
14
Local Food Movements
SPUD.ca and SPUD.com Stock Your Fridge with Organic Groceries
13
Ethnic Exchange Cuisine
Culture Kitchen Employs Immigrants to Teach Cooking Classes
12
Local Eating Guides
Edible Manhattan Offers Critical Analysis on Food Sustainability
11
Locavore Fast Food
Pacific Northwest's Burgerville Restaurants Use Local Ingredients
10
People-Powered Produce
The Food Assembly Services Pop-Up Farmer's Markets Chosen by You
9
Vegetable Bicycling Campaigns
The Braise Local Food Ads Wholly Integrates Green Living
8
Thin Triangular Bars
Roslyn Street Bar and Restaurant by Durbach Block Architects Maximizes Space
7
Consumer Flour Power
Stone-Buhr's 'Find the Farmer' Provides Product Traceablity
6
Local Food Biz Connectors
Sustaination Makes It Easy and Efficient to Get Healthy Food
5
Relationship-Based Baking Businesses
King Arthur Flour Company is Employee-Owned
4
Ethical Gastropubs
The Duke of Cambridge Serves Organic and Local Foods
3
Online Locavore Platforms
Foodhub Aims to Facilitate the Locavore Movement
2
Socially Responsible Giving
Publicis Vancouver Gives Paper Plate Greeting Cards to Clients
1
Two-Wheeled Drive Ins
The Bike-In-Theater Celebrates Biking and Summer in NYC
Related Ideas
Tapping into Collective Potential
The American Express Canada Community Event (Sponsored)
Sustainable Shipping Shelters
The Container Guest House is a Cozy and Eco-Friendly Home
Shipping Container Sushi Joints
The SushiBOX Restaraunt is an Eatery That Knows How to Pack it In
Watchtower Homes
House on Cedar Hill by Cunningham Architects is All About Height
19 Food-Focused Social Enterprises
From Well-Wasted Cuisine to Ethical Gastropubs
Alchemist Spice Branding
Sheffield & Sons Packaging Evokes an Ingredient Purity
Stargazing Spa Retreats
The Malmstrom-Olsens Revamped Their Greenhouse Into an Outdoor Sanctuar
Shipping Container Party Venues
Boxman Studios' Solar-Powered Party Room is a Pop-Up Prefab Plaza
Opulent Oasis Editorials
The Harper's Bazaar September 2011 Color Story
Eco-Friendly Bamboo Dresses
The Salts Organic Felicity Eco-Friendly Dress is Summer-Chic
Interactive Cafe Storefronts
My Starbucks Rewards Program Rewards Frequent Customers
Indoor Reclaimed Farms
The Plant Chicago is a Food Business Incubator
Well-Wasted Cuisine
FoodCycle Uses Surplus to Feed Local Communities
Healthy Farm Juice Branding
Cuckoo’s Juice Branding Identity is Smart, Subtle and Sweet
Unbelievable Stop-Motion Ads
The MTV Balloons Commercial is Epically Poptastic
Psychedelic Restaurant Interiors
Something from Us Gives Poncho No.8 a Far-Out Design
Elemental Healing Resorts
The Fivelements Bali Resort Offers Sacred Arts and Raw Food
Organic Field Photography
Jurgen Heckel's ‘Gras' Shows an Eco-Embrace
Pop-Up Shopping Centers
Boxpark Mall is the First Mall Made from Shipping Containers
50 Decor-Over-Dishes Eateries
These One-of-a-Kind Restaurants are Serving up Style
Social Business Sweets
Eat My Words Dedicates Funds to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
Personal Garden Initiatives
The groOrganic Garden Project is Sprouting up in Communities
Local Grocery Deliveries
Farm2Me lets You Browse Online and Get Goodies to Your Doorstep
Squashed Golf Ball Galleries
The China Comic and Animation Museum is a Bubbly Building
Ethical Lifestyle Apps
The Fair Trade Finder App Crowdsources Fair Trade-Certified Products
Ivy League Social Enterprises
Saathi Won Harvard Business School Competition for Sanitary Pads
Corked Beer Branding
VooBrew Packaging Takes on an American Western Theme
Socially Conscious Packaging
Level Ground Trading Re-Sealable Bags Take You Back to the Fields
One-for-One Glasses
TOMS Eyewear is the Next Chapter in this Innovative Business Model
Sci-Fi Carved Vegetables
Okistugu Kado Sculpts Star Wars Characters Out of Veggies
Crowdsourced Restaurants
'What Happens When' is a Crowdfunded Project that Changes Every Month
13 Locavore Innovations
From DIY Victory Gardens to Subscription Soup Deliveries
Revitalizing Compost Companies
Detroit Dirt Utilizes Unused Pieces of Land for Urban Farms
Colorful Creepy Crawlers
Mohamed Babu Captures Translucent Ants Changing Hue to Match Food
Home-Like Eateries
The Il Buco Italian Restaurant in Athens is Perfectly Personal
Positive Impact Retailers
Blue Button is a Social Business Making a Mark
Shipping Container Cabinets
Sandra Mulder's Pandora is Indestructible and Industrial
Chemical-Centric Campaigns
'Go Organic' Series by Vanessa Heckman Focuses on Food Warning Labels
Fabric-Covered Flats
Hertl Architekten Reskins an Apartment with Draped Drapes
Charitable Airport Regulations
The Frankfurt Airport Recycling Bank Makes Giving Up Bottles Easier
Responsibly Eating Animals
Happy Valley Meat Company Offers Chefs a Holistic Way to Prepare
Online Farmer's Markets
Farmingo Lets You Buy Locally Grown Produce Online
Online Foodie Marketplaces
FarmersWeb Connects Producers and Buyers in the NY Tri-State Area
Fruit-Impersonating Packaging
Pineapple Pastry Branding Takes Shape of the Tropical Treat
Deficiency-Fighting Smoothies
Nanoparticles Added to Foods Combat Anemia or Zinc Deficiency
Deliciously Priceless Bakeries
The Panera Pay-What-You-Can Cafes are Abolishing Hunger
Minimalist Branding Innovations
The Integrated Consultant Group Notices that Times are a Changing
Honest Chocolate
Alter Eco Americas Sells Fair Trade Products, Connects Customers and Farmers
Local Food-Sourced Events
Serendipity Catering Offers Seasonal Produce to Create Specialized Menus
FIFA Food Trucks
The ESPN World Cup Match Truck is a Mobile Food and Game Vehicle
Color-Coordinated Groceries
Marco Ugolini and Pedro Motta Turn Groceries Into Art
Socially Savvy Houses
Social Housing in Brussels is Cleverly Compact and Aesthetically Clean
Neon Beverage Cans
The Zoda Energy Drink Boasts an Electrifying Package Design
Urbane Eatery Identities
Momenti Unici Restaurant Branding Has a Bold and Blue Simplicity
Intricate Ethnic-Inspired Cola
The Brandbox Branding & Creative Agency Creates Breathtaking Coke
Extreme Stunt Drink Branding
Coke 'Mission Impossible' Campaign Focuses on Thrilling Action
Curated Ethical Boxes
Monthly Blissmoboxes are Packed With Social Goodness
Impact Measurement for Creatives
Design:Effect Offers Social Good Metrics for Crafty Entrepreneurs
Simplistic Eco Eateries
The Maaemo Restaurant Serves Up Gourmet Food and an Origami Menu
Green Rapid Response Shelters
The Reaction Housing System Responds Quickly to Any Emergency
Agency-Branded Beer
Image Brew Studio Enhances Marketing by Creating Own Booze
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
Green-Friendly Lunch Packs
The Graze Reusable Sandwich Bags are an Eco Alternative to Plastic
Fresh Perspective Posts
The Social Business Visit to the FoodCycle Cambridge Hub
Eco-Conscious Yoga Accessories
JadeYoga Creates a Mat That is Good for You and the Environment
15 Ethical Health Food Products
From Kindaholic Nutrition Bars to Fair Trade Dried Goods
Outdoorsy Art Centers
Stepney City Farm Encompasses a Shop, Food Market, Cafe, Crafts and Animals
Co-Op Cacoa
Kallari Chocolate Bars Support 850 Families and the Rainforest
Ethical Cocoa Gadget Helpers
The Divine Chocolate App Shares the Story of the Farmer-Owned Company
Purpose-Based Marketing
‘Advertising for Good' Has a Social Mission
Ready-to-Use Food Campaigns
Two Degrees is a One-for-One Company Selling Nutrition Bars
Local Food Movements
SPUD.ca and SPUD.com Stock Your Fridge with Organic Groceries
Job-Training Urban Farms
Cultivate London is a Social Enterprise Growing with Community
Fair Trade Beverages
LemonAid is a Chic Social Business with a Conscience
Mixed-Up Mowers
Pedal-Powered Lawnmower Takes Caring for Your Yard to a New Level
Gaming for Social Good
Decide Toi Clement is a Hip and Interactive PSA
Spirits Showcases
The NYC Indy Spirits Expo Attempts to Encourage Independent Intoxicants
Ethnic Exchange Cuisine
Culture Kitchen Employs Immigrants to Teach Cooking Classes
Ever-Changing Eateries
The 'What Happens When' Restaurant Installation is Undeniabl Unique
Empty Can Activism
The 'Nothing' Campaign Gives You Something to Think About
Disruptive Entrepreneur Incubators
The Unreasonable Institute Spurs Social Enterprise Ventures
Organic Zen Hot Beverages
Qi Teas Offers a Range of Natural Specialty Products Prepared in China
Purpose-Driven Office Supplies
'Give Something Back' Donates Half of Its Profits to Nonprofits
Sandcrawler-Like Structures
The Lucasfilm Animation Building is Inspired by Star Wars
Fair Trade Cocoa
Divine Chocolate is a Social Business Partly Owned by Its Farmers
Interpretive Food Ads
This Strange Ad Humorously Explains ‘How Sushi is Made'
Carbon-Footprinting Food
CleanMetrics Uses CarbonScopeData to Determine the Real Cost of Food
People-Powered Produce
The Food Assembly Services Pop-Up Farmer's Markets Chosen by You
Vegetable Bicycling Campaigns
The Braise Local Food Ads Wholly Integrates Green Living
Pleasing Produce Detectors
The Fresh Code is a an Intelligent Barcode
Spiralling Architecture
Chris Prechteck Designs an Eye-Catching Curvy Library
Vegan Lip Balm
Hurraw! Balm Proves Green Beauty Isn't Only Skin-Deep
Refrigerated Plants
The Kitchen Garden Refrigerator by Hanna SandströM
Movie-Driven Car Promotions
Starlite Urban Drive-in Theater Created by Volvo Brand
Social Entrepreneur Associations
‘Ashoka: Innovators for the Public' is World-Changing
Local Food Deliveries
Mama Earth Organics Lets You Choose Weekly or Bi-Weekly Produce Baskets
H2O-Supporting Coffee Companies
Three Avocados Helps to Provide Clean Water in Uganda
Cinematic Sound Systems
Klipsch THX Ultra2 Home Theater System Mimics the Movie Experience
Blind Grocery Guides
The Love Card from Shen Ming Makes Sightless Grocery Shopping Easier
Local Food Biz Connectors
Sustaination Makes It Easy and Efficient to Get Healthy Food
Relationship-Based Baking Businesses
King Arthur Flour Company is Employee-Owned
Argyle Eatery Identities
Hindukusch Restaurant Branding Has a Savory Olive Sophistication
Charitable iPhone Apps
Ample Harvest Fills Real Life Pantries
Ethical Gastropubs
The Duke of Cambridge Serves Organic and Local Foods
Community-Ownership Organizations
Plunkett Foundation Works in Rural Parts of the United Kingdom
Community-Driven Workspaces
The Centre for Social Innovation Promotes New Ideas
Organic Food Giveaways
The NYFoods Egg Change Project Fosters the One-for-One Model
Social Innovation Networking
The Skoll Foundation Fosters Entrepreneurs Worldwide
Rewarding Fruit Harvest Games
Japanese Game 'Gochipon' Doles Out Real Watermelons to Top Players
Pioneering Apprenticeship Programs
Fifteen Restaurant Offers Opportunities to Disadvantaged Youth
Alternative Loan Products
Fair Finance Offers Affordable Banking to Urban Populations
Activist-Driven Neighbourhoods
'Thriving Communities' is an Alternative Way to See the World
Supermarket-Style Stationary
The Mini Shopping Cart Desk Organizer is Creatively Cute
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Cafedirect Builds Communities Through Social Business
Corporate Foods Collaborations
Grameen Danone Foods is an Example of What's to Come in Social Biz
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Delapointe's Products are Made by Women in Burkina Faso
Social Business Rehabs
San Patrignano Offers Free Programs for Those with Addiction Problems
Cinematic Shades
Enjoy the Outdoors with Borella Design Day and Night
Misshapen Produce Meals
The Feeding the 5,000 Initiative Sheds Light on Wasted Food