Why should you make the effort to shop local? It’s not as simple as going to the grocery store and assuming they have sourced in state foods and goods. If you have checked the labels in your local store lately, odds are you have first-hand experience and knowledge that food is rarely sourced in state. So how can you find in state commodities, why is it important to make sure your dollar is spent in state, and what’s the fastest way to find it?
If you’re not familiar with Fresh from Florida, you have most certainly seen produce or an ad sponsored by them. Fresh From Florida is a “program that promotes Florida agriculture products through consumer marketing campaigns.” They help a wide selection of businesses who specialize in the state of Florida. You could partner with Fresh From Florida if you have a business that operates in Florida in the following categories, producer, u-pick, broker, shipper, distributor, packer, wholesaler, nonprofit/education, retail, grocery, farmers market, garden center, or restaurant. There are several levels of membership.
Here is the best part, if you’re simply a consumer you can follow the Fresh From Florida web page, social media, and mail outs to see who is producing the best local product, where to buy it, and when it’s shipping! The number one aspect of Fresh From Florida is that they have done the leg work, and you reap all the benefits to finding great, responsibly sourced, local foods and goods. Last but certainly not least, Chef Justin… Y’all, the free recipes that are listed are amazing! If you like cooking shows but hate commercials, you’re going to hate me because you’re about to binge watch hours of YouTube videos with amazing food, featuring locally sourced, in-season produce, and it tastes amazing!
Once you have begun the search for local goods, especially on social media, those algorithms can do their thing and you will see ads on your screen for not only items your searching for but more specifically it will be from a local provider. Why not use those annoying algorithms to your benefit by only clicking on items that are Florida businesses and soon that is all your feed will show you. We recently made a purchase through Rowdy Cattle Company where they raise and process beef right here in Florida. They have some of the best quality we’ve had in a long time, custom cuts you select, and an unbeatable price. We highly recommend you give them a call if your tired of paying north of $9/lb in stores for meat you have no history or knowledge on when it comes to that animals upbringing. We paired our steaks with some Fresh From Florida romaine lettuce purchased at Publix to make an amazing dinner that was beyond anything you would receive in a restaurant for a fraction of the price.
Now that you have your guide to finding local fresh produce, it’s time to answer the bigger question, why should I buy local? Why make the effort to find local produce and goods? The first answer is quality, when it comes to food, fresh is best. In state goods mean less travel time, recently harvested for quality, less likely to endure damage in shipping, and a lower carbon footprint on your product to reach your home. The bigger answer is the multiplier effect, which is the additional impact created by each dollar spent. A multiplier of 1.25 means that for every dollar spent at a local shop an additional 25 cents of local economic activity is created.
With small business Saturday approaching quickly accompanying the holiday season, there is no better time to get your feet wet when it comes to shopping local. “According to an economic impact analysis by the American Independent Business Alliance, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses was recirculated locally (a multiplier of 1.48), compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores (a multiplier of 1.14).” This doesn’t mean you cannot support local businesses through chain stores, many local Florida Businesses sell through companies like Publix and The Home Depot. The way to know where your money is going however would be to do your research on the source provider, or check to see if they are affiliated with Fresh From Florida! We hope you use this information and resources to not only find the best product, but also give your local economy a boost when spending.
The Veranda View 