The government is not in the business of making it easier for you to find and purchase local foods. Just look at the draconian regulations that govern slaughterhouses, the USDA requirements (separate bathroom for the inspector?) so arduous and expensive that they all but eliminate boutique companies or local slaughterhouses from being able to slaughter meat meant for sale. By 2000, over 80% of the cows in the United States were processed by just four companies. That's why you may want to own your own cow.
Or look at the rise in raw milk sales, despite the fact that unpasteurized milk is illegal for human consumption. Or farm fresh eggs that have to be sold as "pet food" to get around egg and dairy regs.
A NY Times op-ed describes how one Minnesota farmer discovered another problem when he tried to lease land from a neighbor to meet the rising demand for local fruits and vegetables in his community. Not only does the USDA frown on converting land from the cultivation of the big four commodity crops (rice, soybeans, corn and cotton) they actually penalize the farms that try it. Way to support the move from unsustainable monoculture crops to local, low-impact food farming, USDA.
This article appears in Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2008.