It’s very vogue right now, buying produce that has been locally grown. Nutritionists say that we should definitely eat locally grown and produced food, something to do with the bees and the effects of their pollination on the fruits and vegetables that grow from their efforts. In Europe, it is customary to only prepare foods that are in season and in fact when my wife was living there and wanted to prepare a meal using squash, her hosts looked at her incredulously and said, “Squash is not in season now.”
As a country, we have grown accustomed to eating whatever we wish whenever we wish, regardless of where it came from. Those days may be numbered, as the amount of energy required to ship produce all over the globe may make this practice untenable as the price of that energy goes up.
I can’t say that it hasn’t been this way in the past, depending on events, but we are seeing a definite trend in this country to purchase products that are “made in America.” According to Jack Loechner, writing for The Center for Media Research, in his article “Made in The USA Influences Buyers,” a recent Harris Poll survey suggests that a sense of national pride is manifesting itself in how people part with their money. As a percentage of all US Adults, 61% indicated that they would be more likely to buy a product with the label “Made In America.” And if you look regionally, here in the Midwest, that percentage jumps to 67%. Age is also a determining factor, however there is no doubt that we Americans like products made and produced right here at home.
I believe this same trend exists on a local basis. Small local farmers are beginning to see real success in marketing their produce at farmers’ markets. People want to do business with someone from their town as a way of supporting the local economy. I recently attended a gathering of bright innovators who were demonstrating their technological creativity to a large group of people. I found the pride I had in Kansas City grow as I saw with my own eyes these very bright people showing the results of their labors. I wanted to find a way to do business with these burgeoning entrepreneurs.
The takeaway here is this: if your geographic area is local, be sure you are emphasizing where you come from. Make it a part of your marketing communications so your target market will know. Being a “hometown” company could very well give you the edge you need over your competitors.
I would love to know your thoughts. Drop me an email. Thanks.
David