Locally Grown food cuts down on transportation. Since the food is grown fairly close, the emissions produced by truck is less than a truck hauling the food from store to store or across the country. I read a book last year called "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" that explained the industrial, organic, and local farming system. The industrially grown food was bad for us and the environment. The organic system was better, but there were many loop holes to make it seem better. For example, something that is 100% organic USDA approved only meets 100% of the USDA's standards. So that doesn't necessarily mean that it's really good for us. The best choice is obviously locally grown because it releases the least amount of emissions into the air, more reliable not to have pesticides, and it supports local businesses/farms.

I agree with your ideas on locally grown foods, and I too read "The Omnivore's Dilemma". It is good for the environment because, as you said, it takes less energy to drive the produce around locally. It also reduces the global climate because if you buy your groceries from chains of grocery stores, the produce is most likely shipped from another part of the world. According to ATAG.org, 705 million tonnes of CO2 in 2013. When we buy produce from other countries, although we are improving their economy by doing so, we increase the amounts of carbon in the atmosphere, increasing our global warming.