Speech
Imagine you’re enjoying a
delicious burrito with guacamole from Chipotle that you knew was worth the $1.75
extra. That is, until you realize your colon is revolting from the toxic
bacteria. Fun right?
There are so many health,
economic and community reasons to buy locally sourced food, but many of the
same advantages are also seen when buying from local merchants rather than big
box stores.
After the E. coli debacle, Chipotle faced many
health related challenges and profound customer dissatisfaction. This forced them to alter their food production
systems and incorporate organic wholesome ingredients in addition to their GMO-free
offerings. Although this is a big step for chain stores, local businesses have taken
advantage of organic practices and short supply chains for years. One of the
many benefits of shopping locally is the wholesome ingredients from local farms
offers healthy options for people in the very same community.
There are clear benefits to
buying food from local farmers, but there are also powerful economic and
community benefits to buying products from locally owned and operated
businesses. The overall benefits of
buying locally aren’t strictly confined to food as all local businesses around
the country offer a multitude of benefits for people in their towns.
So what is local? A food
product is considered locally grown if it is produced within 400 miles or in
the same state.
The growing trend for
consumers to buy local has most corporate stores offering homegrown food
options and other local products. And
these goods are carefully labeled to highlight their local origin. Local markets, especially farmer’s markets,
are commonplace now, making farm to plate an easy reality. While you can’t shop at farmers markets or
buy locally grown strawberries all year long, eating in-season locally
harvested foods can be an important component to a healthy lifestyle. Since
many foods produced by larger corporations are not made locally, they require
special packaging, preservatives, and extra transportation compared to locally
sourced foods. Local farms are more
likely to produce naturally fresh, free-range, preservative-free ingredients. In our current local food system there is a disconnection
between consumers and their source of food.
While shopping at local
stores doesn’t always mean quality food or even fresh food, the businesses are
attuned to their community and adjust to their needs and wants. If a product is
in demand, whether it’s honey, beef, or burritos, entrepreneurs will fill the
need and provide diversity. And it’s what the community wants and is
buying. According to USDAs marketing
service, the number of farmer’s markets has almost doubled from 1998 to 2009,
and school programs using local school suppliers for lunches undertook a five-fold
increase from 2004 to 2009 according to national farm to school network.
Much like the food industry,
local business owners and workers also have close relationships with their
customers and community. Good luck getting
three free Krispy Kreme doughnuts at your next visit. You’ll have to go to local Magees Bakery for
that bonanza.
Other national food chains
liberally utilize additives. Not long
ago, McDonald’s Restaurants were exposed for using pink slime as filler for
their burgers. Local farm-raised beef or
chicken has not been found to contain the same substance.
One of the challenges faced
by local farms is the cost of growing and production. The lack of automation compared to larger
corporations often means the consumer pays a little more for the same
item. But how much is your health worth
to you? Are you invested in your
community and their success? We need to think healthy and act locally.
And it’s not only about
food. What many people don’t know about
shopping locally is that it boosts the local economy. How? When you buy local, the money never leaves your
community- local farmer, local workers, local purchase of equipment, and local
banks. Local businesses use local resources
and the money spent circulates back into the community. While large businesses
claim to create more jobs for people in the community they often don’t utilize local
contractors, architects, designers, and accountants for planning and building.
And while about 33.6% of revenue from national chains is reinvested in the
community, almost double that percentage is reinvested from local businesses.
A study done at Iowa State
University of new Wal-marts found that 84% of sales shifted money away from existing
local stores; and, several studies have also shown that the establishment of
large corporations costs more taxpayer dollars to support services than the
community would reap. If the people of an average community in America shifted
10% of their spending to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235
million to that community’s economy. We need to think economically and act
locally.
Shopping locally also greatly
cuts down on environmental stress. Without the need for large-scale transportation,
processing, and packaging, local businesses have a smaller carbon footprint as
compared to the Shaq-esque size footprint of large corporations. Keep in mind
that emissions from shopping transportation produce one billion metric tons of CO2
and uses 11 billion gallons of fuel internationally per year. Overall
agriculture accounted for 9% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 according to
the EPA. And a small 10% shift of the produce to local use from one states farm
would reduce CO2 emissions by 7.3 million pounds in a single year according to
a 2010 study. That’s because
transportation like trucks and trains are responsible for 25% of the smog
pollution, almost universally from large-scale company transportation. Local businesses are much more likely
to incorporate sustainable practices.
Local businesses make
communities thrive by providing economic diversity and a personal touch that
sets them apart from others. We can’t
allow amazon and other large corporations run out our local businesses like the
Morris Bookshop because they make the city of Lexington unique. Since we decide
where to spend our money, we have the power to make an impact on our community
and our world by shopping locally. Along with AMIBA and various organizations
that bring local communities together, you must spearhead the movement by
buying locally to boost the community and help the environment. So slap on that
granola crunchy buy local sticker and support the movement for a better
community and a better life.
You can’t buy happiness, but
you can buy local and it just may be the same thing. So when you’re shopping
this holiday season or anytime, think local and act local.
Sources:
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/local_business_benefits/
Food,
Inc. Movie 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.