Although the positive impact of local or farmers' markets is measurable directly in the short term, there is need to consider that the direct positive impacts may create losses for business entities that are spread in different and adjacent production areas. .
Nevertheless, supporters of Buy Local have touted several benefits, which include reduced environmental footprint, fresher and larger varieties of food items, lesser susceptibility to shortages, enhanced local employment and higher involvement of the community. Local food systems allow low income families with better availability of fresh vegetables and fruit. In encouraging low income families to benefit from farmers' markets, the practice of food stamping and labeling is adopted by many food retailers. Buy Local leads to environmental benefits and enhanced cooperation and understanding amongst community members. It is known that big food processing companies make use of huge amounts of plastic and paper packaging to keep food fresh, primarily because it has to be transported across huge distances and is then stored under temperature control for long periods. It is very difficult to reuse or recycle all this packing material. Moreover, most of the industrial farming establishments are the main sources of water and air pollution. Most of the food produce is harvested at least 3-7 days before it is put up on shelves in supermarkets. Food products are shipped to average distances of 1400 miles prior to being sold. It is noteworthy that this massive transport of foodstuffs is possible only because energy prices are kept artificially low without accounting for the immense damage that is done to the environment and to human societies (Globalization 101, 2010). .
Some analysts believe that the Buy Local Movement often harms the interests of developing nations while others hold that it benefits them. The Buy Local Movement is beneficial for developing nations when the programs are implemented in keeping with the food assistance policies of developed nations.