How a Small $20 Shift in Where You Spend Your Food Budget Can Make a Big Difference

This is part of The Local Food Challenge, a program of the For Farmers Movement

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Americans spend an astonishing $2.39 trillion every year on food. The average household alone spends more than $9,300 annually on takeout, coffee runs, and convenience foods that often come from thousands of miles away. And then? We waste over 40% of it. All that time, money, and potential—gone.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t take a revolution to make a difference. If every household shifted just $20 of their weekly food budget toward local farms, it would inject billions back into our communities, create jobs, strengthen local economies, and keep small farms thriving.

That’s less than one dinner out. Less than two lattes. But for a farmer, it could mean the next season’s seeds, a repaired tractor, or simply the chance to keep going.

And for you? It could mean knowing where your food comes from and who grew it. It could mean fresher, more flavorful meals on your table, fewer chemicals in your body, and more dollars circulating right where you live. It’s a small act that deepens your connection to your food, your health, your neighbors, and the land itself.

Because when you support local farms, you’re not just buying food. You’re investing in your own wellbeing, in the resilience of your community, and in a food system that actually feeds us all.

The Ripple Effect of Just One $20 Shift

Spend just $20 a week on local food, and that adds up to $1,040 a year invested right back into your own community. Research shows that 68% of every dollar spent locally stays local, supporting farmers, small businesses, and the soil that feeds us all. That means stronger farms, healthier land, more vibrant main streets, and better food on your plate.

Now imagine if 10,000 people made that same $20 shift.

$20 × 10,000 people × 52 weeks = $10 million flowing directly into the hands of local farmers every single year.

That’s not pocket change; that’s transformation. It’s proof that small, consistent choices add up to real power. Together, we can rebuild the food system from the ground up, one bite, one farm, and one $20 bill at a time.

How to Get Started

This challenge isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Start where you are. Here are some ideas:

• Begin small. If $20 feels like too much, start with $5 a week and work your way up.

• Create a reminder. Put cash in a jar labeled “local food” so the money is set aside.

• Make swaps. Replace one grocery store item with a local one—like eggs, tomatoes, or berries from the farmer's market.

• Experiment. Try one meal each week made with local ingredients. Notice the difference in taste, freshness, and connection.

• Share the shift. Tell your friends, invite them to cook with you, or post about your experience. That’s how movements grow—one step at a time.

  
  

This Week’s Challenge

Head to your local farmers’ market with $20 in your pocket and intention in your step. Wander until something speaks to you: a basket of late-season peaches, a dozen eggs still warm from the morning, a crusty loaf of bread, or the perfect cut of local meat for Sunday dinner. Buy it. Savor it. And take a moment to talk with the person who grew or made it. That conversation is part of what you’re investing in, too.

Because whether it’s $5, $10, or $20, every dollar you redirect strengthens the soil beneath your feet, keeps small farms alive, and fuels the local economy that feeds your community. The journey starts small, but the impact is mighty.

So go ahead. Make the $20 shift this week. Feel the difference. Taste the change.

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Dana DiPrima is leading a national movement to support small American Farmers because our health, communities, environment, and regional economies depend on it. The For Farmers Movement supports farmers by sharing their stories, replacing myths with facts, and providing them with grants and other helpful resources.

Dana is also the host of One Bite is Everything, the podcast that connects the food on your plate to the bigger world by sharing conversations with thought leaders, helpful tips, and monthly recaps of key issues on the food and policy scene. One Bite is Everything is a proud member of Heritage Radio Network, home to some of the most influential voices in food.

Dana authors a weekly letter in addition to this blog. You can subscribe here. You can join the For Farmers Movement to support your local farmers here. You can also follow Dana on Instagram.