Buying local:

Helping out the Economy In your community

Burning question: What are the economic benefits of going local?

Findings:

· Many local businesses are going local even though you may not know it, Ken’s place in Scarborough buy fresh produce and all seafood that’s within two miles of the restaurant.

· Owner Dave Wilcox said “ That he uses 2,000 pounds of potatoes a week from Aroostook County.

· When I asked Wilcox if he believed in supporting his local economy? He said, “Yes, because every dollar spent so much of it comes back to the town”.

· It’s easy to grow vegetables at home, even if you live in a small apartment.

· By growing vegetables or buying them locally at a farmers market you are going to have less preservatives that could make an impact on your body.

· Schools in Maine are going local, looking at Bate College theywere given money to start buying food locally. Christine Schwartz, director of dining services, said, “ The dining-services department has also started buying local fruit in season (which is relatively short, given Maine’s climate) and quick-freezing it to use throughout the year. Employees froze 150 pounds of blueberries for students to eat this winter”

Conclusion:

As we can see from experience or a little bit of research, going local and helping the economy at the same time is not that hard. Everyone should try doing it. In the long run it may make an impact on you as an individual or a group of people but only if everyone started going local would it make a dramatic impact on our economy and society.