In the farm and ranch community of Paonia, Colorado, last week, I saw a number of pickups and store windows bearing the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" message.
This week, Minnesota 2020 introduced its own version, called Made in MN, that looks to be a holiday campaign including more than food. It's sorely lacking in good graphics, but the sentiment is right.
The MN2020 report says buying Minnesota-made products benefits the state's economy and the environment:
- Even as little as a 10 percent diversion of the Minnesota’s retail market to local products would have entrepreneurs adding jobs and boosting business with suppliers.
- When you spend $1 at a local independent business, an average of 68 cents is re-circulated into the local economy. In contrast, when you spend $1 at a national chain, only about 43 cents stays at home.
- The typical holiday meal travels about 1,200 miles from farm to Minnesota dinner table. A large percentage of holiday gifts go at least that far, with many arriving on a fast boat from China.
- Buying local reduces packaging and transportation costs.
I made a big mistake not buying local recently. Seduced by a low price for a video camera online, I bypassed the local retailer where I'd usually buy. Long story short, an aggressive sales person who had to "confirm" my online order managed to mislead me about what I'd be receiving. I got off the phone with an uneasy feeling that was confirmed when the shipment arrived and I didn't receive what I expected, while paying close to the same price I could've gotten down the street.
Calling and emailing to return the product according to their process received no response until the deadline had passed. And when I finally reached them, the response was basically: We'll take it back if you agree to pay nearly 1/3rd the purchase price.
I'm now negotiating through my credit card company.
So let's add one more point to the list. Buy local and you don't have to deal with sleazy merchants from New Jersey.
