I like to buy locally - local beef, local chickens and local eggs. I'd like to see paleos in larger urban centers get together and start local meat CSAs.

What about the shipping and foodmiles? Surely, as paleo eaters we should strive to support the local, grass-roots food scene, not food that has been sent from across the country/world?

I understand what you are trying to achieve here, but I think that the money saved in our pocketbooks would be ultimately spent on environmental costs. How about setting up a local buyer's club, not just paleo but dairy too, and then a greater variety of local farmers, who are passionate about their community near to you can be supported? This would also help local bio-diversity and small businesses in your area and ultimately spread the message about paleo through word of mouth - the best advertising there is.

While I can totally appreciate the sentiment, I don't think the idea is actually viable.

For vitamins, fats, and similar shelf-stable items you're not going to be able to out-compete the existing internet retailers with their huge volumes and highly optimized order fulfillment infrastructure. In fact, we Paleo-ers are riding the coat tales of the much larger general health and supplement population.

With perishables, meat, dairy, etc., the higher costs are endemic to the method. I don't know that there are too many farmers who could both double their production and lower their costs if only they had twice as many customers. Plus there remains the usual retail processing and order fulfillment tasks. This stuff doesn't just go away because the people ordering all share a diet ethic. Ultimately, you'll find yourself back to local farmers you know and trust as the best sources for good food.

Sorry if this is a downer.

Good idea!

I would think the most common items would be seafood, grass-fed beef, and free-range chicken and eggs.