Did you know that when you buy local, for every $1.00 spent $.67 stays within the community; but for every $1.00 spent at a large chain, only $.43 stays within the community.  That means that shopping local circulates more money back into the local economy.  

Not only does buying local circulate more money back into the local economy (thus helping more jobs & community engagement), but buying local also builds a sense of connection that is rapidly being lost in the name of progress.  Knowing where your product comes from and the hands that produced it instinctively produces a form of connection and loyalty.  This kind of relationship has a ripple effect, as a sense of connection leads to community, which leads to resilience.  

In addition to putting money back into the local economy and establishing personal connection within a community, buying local is always good for the environment.  Most local artisans, craftsmen and farmers tend to use more sustainable practices because they’re easier to manage on a small scale.  As a result, local materials are often used which has a direct impact on waste and travel reduction.  

I remember the days of trying to stack all my coupons at Harris Teeter to try and get my balance as close to $0 as possible.  And I remember times of scouring the reduced price meat section to get the most bang for my buck.  However, when we reduce grocery shopping to simply a dollar amount, we are missing out on one of the most important aspects of food to begin with – which, long ago, was about bringing people together.  
Some of our favorite farmers in the area have been establishing relationships within the community for decades.  As a little girl I used to get my corn and tomatoes from Ogburn Berry and Produce – and sure enough, they’re out there still building bridges and bringing families back to the table.  Another favorite artisan is The Bread Lady.  She’s out there bringing the highest quality ingredients to bring the absolute best sourdough products fresh to your table!  Are they more expensive?  Indeed.  But I think the more we shop local, the more we’ll find it’s far more delightful to connect over food than simply consume it.   And I’m not sure there’s a price to put on that.