Illinois, Wisconsin Cities Are America’s Best for Buying Local Food

As you prepare for the upcoming harvest season, these rankings might just inspire your next cooking adventure or local food shopping spree.

Where in America Can You Find the Best Farm-Fresh Food?

LawnStarter's 2024 rankings reveal the top U.S. cities where local food enthusiasts can find the freshest produce and support the local food movement.

Portland, Oregon, continues to shine as the ultimate destination for farm-fresh food, topping the list of Best Cities to Buy Local Food.

A high concentration of u-pick farms, on-farm markets, and agri-tourism businesses give Portland and its neighboring suburbs like Beaverton and Hillsboro high scores in the survey.

Not far behind Portland are cities in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions, which also rank high for local food access. From New York City to Baltimore, these urban centers and their surrounding areas offer impressive access to farm stands, u-pick farms, and on-farm markets.

Cities in the Southwestern States Lag Behind in Local Food Access

Cities in the Southwestern U.S. and Anchorage, Alaska, find themselves at the lower end of the rankings, according to Lawnstarter.

Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona struggle with fewer farm stands, u-pick farms, and local food businesses. This lack of infrastructure makes it more challenging for residents to access fresh, locally-grown produce and supports.

7 of the 50 Best Cities in U.S. for Local Food are in Illinois

Several cities in Illinois and Wisconsin ranked high on the list for quality, local food access.

Arlington Heights: 50th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Waukegan: 46th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Schaumburg: 43rd Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Elgin: 36th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Rockford: 32nd Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Evanston: 26th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Chicago: 8th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

In Wisconsin:

Madison: 14th Best City in U.S. for Local Food

Methodology Behind the Rankings

LawnStarter's study evaluated 500 of the largest U.S. cities based on 21 metrics grouped into four categories:

• Access,
• Convenience,
• Support,
• Interest.

Factors such as proximity to u-pick farms, availability of on-farm markets, and the presence of local food movement chapters were weighted to determine each city's rank.