Are you familiar with the term “localvore”? Localvores, in a nutshell, are those who focus on consuming locally grown foods. The idea behind localvore-ism is that when a person buys locally, the local economy, region, and environment are strengthened as money stays within the area, relationships are formed between producer and consumer, and fewer resources are needed to move the food such a short distance.
The localvore movement seems to be expanding as our society’s environmental moral sense grows. There are CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) that allow consumers to purchase shares of food directly from farmers, cooperatively owned markets cropping up around the nation, and a revitalization of farmers’ markets. The localvore movement now goes beyond just food and embraces all consumer trade goods. Collectives have popped up across the country that remind consumers to buy regionally produced products, many of which are handmade. At minimum, localvores stress to “buy American”, which saves countless pounds of emissions and particulates in our environment due to a drop-off of fuel usage during transportation.
One company, scrubs uniform manufacturer, Sassy Scrubs, embraces the localvore ideals. Every single scrub top, lab coat, and doctor’s cap that carries their company name is custom cut, sewn, and mailed from their home base in upstate New York. They point out that their scrubs are sewn in the USA. Purchasing products from companies such as Sassy Scrubs supports the localvore movement by buying their “homegrown” products rather than those made and shipped from overseas manufacturers. Therefore, it is not only a patriotic plan to attempt to, it is an environmentally sound plan as well.
When you want to drive sustainability, decrease the squandering of our natural resources, and foster environmentally friendly practices, be sure to think locally. Support the localvore campaign and purchase locally produced foods and other consumer goods, for the health of our environment, and for your own conscience.
