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Tuesday, 18 December 2007 |
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Photo by Ryan Wilcox
South Carolina residents are turning to their local farmers market more frequently to get their produce, which in turn boosts the local economy.
By Kristen Poland
Staff Writer
A scan of the shelves in Charleston’s Home Grown Grocer won’t yield Hormel Bacon or Quaker Instant Grits. Instead, owner Tamlyn Willard stocks grits and flour from Columbia’s Anson Mills, ham and bacon from Caw Caw Creek Fine Pastured Pork in St. Matthews and fresh eggs and vegetables from Green Grocer Farms on Johns Island. In fact, everything in the store is grown, raised or produced in South Carolina.
Willard’s shop, which is an extension of her Sublime Bakery, epitomizes a movement to shift consumer buying from multinational chain stores to locally owned, independent shops. Around the state, groups—both formal and informal—are advocating the importance of strong local and regional businesses to the state’s future economic success. A local business that directly supports local businesses, Home Grown Grocer is one of the founding members of a new nonprofit group, Lowcountry Local First.
Formed earlier this year, Lowcountry Local First recently embarked on a Charleston-area campaign to educate consumers about the benefits of buying local. LLF says independently owned companies filter a greater percentage of money back into the community, are environmentally friendlier and tend to treat their employees better. In addition, LLF posits that locally owned businesses add a unique flavor to communities whereas multinational chains spawn cookie-cutter shopping centers.
“It’s crucial to support a local living economy in order to maintain the character of the Lowcountry,” said LLF Executive Director Jamee Haley. “We are encouraging folks to do that by supporting locally owned businesses and farmers.”
But some multinational corporations maintain they contribute just as much to the local economy through charitable donations. Target Corp. dedicates 5% of its income to making changes in the communities where its stores are located, giving some $3 million per week on average nationwide, according to Anna Goeppinger, a company spokeswoman. Target gives mainly to education, arts and social services.
“Through focused giving, we can dive deep and truly make changes in these areas,” Goeppinger said.
Lowcountry Local First was formed in February and has about 20 members. A business membership is $100 for one year and includes promotion through LLF’s marketing efforts, a listing on LLF’s Web site (www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org), an LLF decal to display at the business, invitations and discounts to LLF events, a quarterly newsletter, peer advice and networking opportunities. Community members may join for $50 per year.
LLF hosted its inaugural Buy Local Week the last week of September with a kickoff bash at V Fitness Center in downtown Charleston featuring local food, local music and guest speakers. Three smaller events were held at locally owned businesses throughout the week.
Home Grown Grocer hosted one of the events and Willard served samples of local foods she sells in the store. Sampling a shrimp cocktail and a ham-and-cheese biscuit, Charleston-area real estate agent Donna Urban said she often supports restaurants that use local seafood. She also said she finds customer service is better in local businesses than in chain stores.
“When it’s local, the staff seems to have more pride and it shows in the service,” Urban said.
However, finding local businesses to support is growing increasingly difficult, especially in Charleston’s downtown, she observed.
“Downtown is pretty much all big-box stores now,” Urban said. “It’s nice, but I miss the character of the local shops.”
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