As the mother of a toddler, apple juice is a key ingredient to our daily life. A few weeks ago I was shocked to learn that I bought apple juice that was a product of China! Yes, I live in Washington State, where the apple is so symbolic that the state college football rivalry is called the Apple Cup! I had a coupon and it was a common brand name. Sure, I bought the juice at a grocery store in my home town, but I felt the “buy local” effort was moot at that point.
There are three core values to the concept of buying local, and each is worth consideration each time we make a purchase.
ORIGIN
The first is the origin of the product. Was it made overseas or in the USA? If USA, how close to your hometown was it made? Did it contribute to your city’s, county’s or state’s economy?
LOCATION
The second is where you bought the item. How close to your house was the store? Was it in your hometown, a nearby city or town, or even your state? This could be particularly challenging when making purchases online, but numerous sites, like Etsy, bring local, handmade in the USA artistry right to your door.
TYPE
The third is what type of store it is. Is it a chain or independently owned? If it is a chain, is it a small chain with local (in your county or state) ownership, or is it a large national (or international/headquartered outside the US) chain?
If you really care about buying local, you should take all of these considerations into account. In other words, take it to the next level!
This weekend I finally stopped in Chic Essentials, a boutique on main street in Duvall. There I bought a gorgeous made in the USA scarf, hand dyed in Seattle. If I were to grade that purchase, it gets an A (especially since it is for my Mother-In-Law)! It came from a local, independently owned shop in my hometown and was made within my state, and even within my county!
The Laurel Tree in Duvall features a variety of art from the Pacific Northwest, with special emphasis on artists right here in the Snoqualmie Valley. If I bought a piece of art there made by someone in Duvall, now that would be an A+!
And what about dining experiences? Do you make an effort to dine at independent restaurants that source local food? We have many opportunities to take advantage of this in the Pacific Northwest, where the local and organic movement is thriving! How about a small independent restaurant with Valley vegetables and local free-range beef or chicken (or Hempler’s bacon-yum), or NW seafood= A (I’m thinking The Grange Cafe and Duvall Grill!)
What grade would you get for the purchases you make? Stay tuned for my grading chart coming soon, and bring on the Tree Top! How do you like them apples?
Miss the first two in my Buying Local series? You should read them!
Part 1
Part 2
Great post! Love that you’re getting everyone interested in buying local!