What
you need to do to buy local products
The following works for both where the product is produced
and where the product is bought.
Go to your nearest town first to make a purchase. Next
try in your nearest large town. Then try somewhere in your
county, then England, then the UK. If not in the UK try our
neighbouring countries e.g. France, Holland or Spain.
Try to buy produce that is made locally, sold locally and
sold by an independent store as opposed to a national retail
store or supermarket.
Buying locally does not mean being xenophobic. Nor does it
mean that we should not buy product from other countries as
many products we use are not made in this country. It simply
means that if you can buy locally, then do buy locally and
do so as close as possible.
If you can find what you need in a local independent store
then go there instead of any of the big institutional companies
such as the supermarkets or any company that is in every high
street in the country. Supermarkets and other big companies
pay pretty much minimum wage so they don't contribute to the
local economy in any significant way. By far, the majority
of the profit goes out of the county, maybe even out of the
country. That money will never be seen again by yourself or
your neighbours. If you buy from a local store the shop owner
will mostly spend the money locally also and so the money circulates
within your community. This is especially important during
this financial crisis but will still be important when the
crisis is over.
It may be that if you shop at a local independent store you
will have to pay a little more. Supermarkets have incredible
economies of scale so can drive prices down (and by so doing
kill any local, smaller competition). So you may be able to
pay say 10% less at a supermarket, but at what price!? Your
local economy will suffer, your culture will be razed
and your high street will look like any other in the country.
We need to start pulling together and helping ourselves.
Want to comment on this article in the forum?
Click
here and then look for: About buying locally < How
to buy local |
Share
this page