For you, what does it mean to "shop local"?

Question

for you, when shopping "local", what things do you buy? where do you buy them? is shopping at a national chain store still shopping "local" if the store is located in your town?

what are the benefits of shopping "locally" as YOU define it?

Answer 1

Shopping local means buying from non-chain family owned businesses and farms first.

I am not a vegetarian (yet) but I am an organic foods freak, but I have to admit that Whole Foods has a better fresher selection that some of the other local health foods stores. Also, they post the country of origin of their produce and sometimes of their seafood. This is very healthy.  During the summer I will try to join one of the local organic food coops though.

Shopping local means shopping at a local family owned pharmacy (which I do), hardware store (rather than Lowes of Home Depot), local clothing stores, etc. Often the prices are higher because they cannot afford to buy huge inventories. Also, I'm pretty sure the chains drop their prices to squeeze out the family owned businesses. It's a crime, because they go out of business, then the prices in the chains rise and the quality drops dramatically.

One very nice "business" we have is "freecycle".  I'll probably get more active in that.

Answer 2

To shop local or locally means that you buy what you need in.

the shops of the surroundings where you live.

Therefore you benefit your quarter with your shoppings.

Answer 3

It would mean buying from local stores that buy their produce from local farmers .

The problem is that super markets and big chain stores ,are cheaper ,better quality .and better presentation as well as more choice ,

But their produce comes from contracts more than often than not,from far away.

It takes a strong housewife with unbending principles to fore go that for the morals sake .

Many temptations are placed on the road of righteousness.

This is gonna happen in My town in Mexico

,A big Yankee chain store Plaza is being build,which will kill the market place ,and half the towns stores .

And the men say they will continue at the market to support local businesses of all their friends

The women say no way,they want nice looking meat with out flies and blood on the floor of the place they buy at,

and beautiful vegetables.

And they do the shopping

Still better to grow your own to stay clear of these dilemma`s

Answer 4

I basically ignore this clarion call. There is not a store within my municipality to shop at, and shop local in terms of products is a joke if my neighbors are not doing it too.

It is a move to protect your job while you ignore mine.

I am putting this on the table because it is all too obvious to most people.

Answer 5

at least 10 miles away from home

Answer 6

I live in rural Oklahoma in a town with a population of about 6000.  Shopping local to me means buying everything I can in my hometown so that all the tax revenue goes toward my hometown's schools, parks , roads, etc.  I don't like contributing to other town's or city's infrastructures when mine is in dire need.  This inludes "Walmarts".  We just recently got a super walmart.  It has generated 80K-100K a month in sales tax revenue for our small town.  We have already seen improvements to fire, police, and recreation.

It also means buying from local ma and pa shops.  I frequently get free advice from them.  I should repay them by buying their products even if they are more expensive than those "in town"

Answer 7

Shopping local to me means that you like to pay the highest price possible at a small store located in your town/city so you don't look bad to your family and friends,  Making sure to keep the prideful insane image that you actually like paying that high of a price and that you are supporting the locals for something you could get for much less at wal-mart /target /k-mart.

Answer 8

things that are made and grown in your hometown

Answer 9

#1 for me, is to keep the tax in the city which in turn helps the community.

#2 is to support the mom and pop stores which gives me great pleasure.

#3 it uses less gas

note- shopping at a chain store could qualify but doesn't "feel" local to me.

Answer 10

Stay in the western hemisphere.

Answer 11

when I'm at the grocery store, i look for where it is a product of, I live in Nova Scotia, Canada...so if it says product of Maine or product of British Columbia, I choose Maine....it is closer. Our provincial government has started a buy local campaign...things that are grown in our province have the "select Nova Scotia" logo. This makes it easier......but i have just learned that in Canada things can be grown in another country and if it is re-packaged then the company is allowed to put "product of Canada" on it. I bought a bag of apples that said product of Canada then the sticker on the apple in the bag said product of Washington. I felt like I was being lied to.

The best thing is to try and buy at your local farmers market as much as possible and to buy things that are in season to your growing area. Ex. we can't grow strawberries in our region in the winter so I don't buy them in January....but turnip that has been harvested in the fall, can be stored for a long time.

Try to choose things that are grown/ made/produced closest to your home.

Benefits are smaller carbon footprints...boosting your own local economy....keeping the money in your area.

Answer 12

Shopping local for me means buying what is grown and produced in Ontario, or at the very least, in Canada.  So that means I don't eat lettuce in the winter and I don't eat oranges at all - they don't grow here.  I buy clothes and home furnishings at second hand stores.  

The objective for me is to reduce the amount of energy required to keep me functioning in the 'food chain' we call society.

Answer 13

farmers market if you live in a urban or suburban enviroment

farms hold markets on the weekends if youre country

Answer 14

I live in a small town and the stores that we have, including Walmart pay city sales taxes. So everytime I shop at one of the stores in my town, I am putting money in the city coffers to pay for police, fire, ambulance service, library and other city services. Our town took some of that money and built a bicycle trail, lighted, paved and landscaped for our residents to improve their health and supply family fun. All those dollars spent allow us to enjoy our town and draw others as well.

Answer 15

Try getting products that are made near where you live.  For example, it would most likely use less fuel to transport something that's grown closer to you than say on the other side of the country.  Also shop local farmers markets (if you have any) or a secondary choice would be a store like whole foods, trader joe's and sprouts.  Basically:  Try to shop close to you for products that were made near/closer to where you live.  It will reduce wasted energy, even if just a small amount.