Report: Arizona among the worst states for eating local

We’re told to eat local, but as Arizonans, that’s apparently easier said than done.

That’s according to the third annual Locavore Index, in which states are ranked based on the availability of local food to the average citizen.

Arizona was among the 10 worst states in which to eat locally at No. 3, while more farm-friendly states such as Oregon, Vermont, and Maine found themselves in the top 10.

According to Strolling of the Heifers, a Vermont-based local food advocacy group, the annual index is composed by dividing the state’s number of farmers markets, community-supported agriculture and number of food hubs (which are facilities that handle aggregation and distribution of foods from regional farms and food producers) per 100,000 residents. Farmers markets and community-supported agriculture is weighted at 30 percent each, and food hubs as well as farm-to-school programs are weighted at 20 percent.

The good news for Arizona, at least, is that it’s not last on the list — that slot is reserved for Texas.

Surprise, surprise.

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