There's a mathematical function called the "s-curve" (or sigmoid curve); it looks like this:
Economists, sociologists and business-types use it to describe trends. Typically the vertical axis will represent units of product or number of users, and the horizontal axis represents time. Right in the middle of the graph is the inflection point, where the trend changes sign -- it's still growing, but the rate of growth begins to slow down. But in the lower left-hand portion of the graph is where the growth sharply accelerates, giving the curve a "hockey stick" shape. This is sometimes referred to as the tipping point -- when a previously rare or niche product suddenly and rapidly becomes common.
I think the Summer of 2008 might be remembered as the point when local food tipped. Marian Burros has a feature on the front page of the New York Times food section on the growth of local food -- "Supermarket Chains Narrow Their Sights". Loads of sound bites in her article, such as Wal-Mart announcing that it will spend $400 million this year on locally grown produce, and Wegman's Food Markets seeing a 20% increase in sales of local produce this past year. Sure, it may be tempting to view some of this with a suspicious eye (Wal-Mart?). But on the whole, that major chain retailers are shifting their focus toward local food systems is a very good thing.
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