Went to the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia. Food was good, especially an excellent mushroom soup. They make a big deal about being a farm to table place, with most of the food coming from the local area. As our modern world becomes more homogeneous, people are looking for more authentic experiences, what you might call the back stories for their products. This applies especially to food.
Food is intimate and eating is or can be) a focal activity, one that adds meaning. If you are what you eat you eat what you are, or what becomes you. I do not believe locally grown organic food is better for health or necessarily for the environment. But I do like the idea that people might be involved with the production of food they eat and might be willing to pay a little more for the connection to local food producers. Relationships count.