Spending involves a choice about the kind of future we want to have. This publication explains why we should care about our spending choices when it comes to food and sustainability. The report provides a new approach to analyzing the economics of the food system, new support for developing strong local linkages, and new strategies for taking action to grow the local food economy. We find that locally directed spending supports a web of relationships, rooted in place, which serves to restore the land and regenerate community.