By Richard Suttie
When purchasing local products, you’re supporting the local economy and the employment of local people. There are many studies that indicate that shopping locally has major economic benefits for your local community as evidenced by the chart below. When you spend $100 at a local business, on average 58% more of your money stays in your community compared to the percentage at a multinational company store.
Benefits of shopping locally include:
1. Shopping local food means you’re getting fresher produce that is not only beneficial to the environment, to the farmers but also to your health as often international food come with preservatives to make them last longer. Raw honey is a particularly powerful way to boost your personal health and support the bee population. Besides helping to knockout allergies, buying honey from a nearby beekeeper promotes agriculture. In fact, about one-third of the food we eat relies on bees for pollination.
It’s simple: eating foods that are unadulterated with pesticides or free from hormone-disrupting compounds contribute to a huge upgrade in the Standard Australian Diet.
2. You are supporting more Australian Jobs
Your money stays local when you buy local. It strengthens the local economy in two ways. Buying local fuels new employment and job opportunities for people within the community. Locally owned businesses employ more people per unit of sales and retain more employees.
3. Supporting the community. The higher volume of local businesses means a lower rate of mortality, obesity, and diabetes. due to the mentioned benefit of eating healthy food.
The land is also a factor with the average “megastore” consuming massive quantities of land for commercial use. In fact, the land used for such superstores is around 15 acres because of the buildings and parking lots. The environmental detriment due to this land usage has lead to issues like increased water run-off (contaminated by oils), lowered water tables, and reduction of animal habitats. Local shops use the land more productively and often occupy existing structures.
By allowing local businesses to thrive you will be indirectly helping with local tourism, as visitors are more likely to visit our local area if there are distinct and individual shops to visit.
4. Buying local creates connections to people and planet. Staying engaged with your local farms and businesses means a greater sense of community. Having a sense of connection with people creates lasting friendships and also holds such communities accountable for their actions. Getting to visit the farms that grow our foods and physically touch the land goes beyond physical health and nature connects us with the core of humanity.
So, other than the financial benefits, shopping local goes beyond spending. It can create better health, a better community and a connected world.
