Be a "locavore" and eat local.

Did you know that in 2007 the Oxford Dictionary of English designated "locavore" as its Word of the Year?  Simply put, a locavore is one who is committed to consuming local foods.  (See more description from Wikipedia below.)

This just makes sense on a number of levels.  There are many more reasons, but I will touch on three here.

First, being a locavore supports the Michigan economy by keeping more money circulating within the state and potentially even your local community.  We have heard this a number of times recently around MCC.  We have seen the numbers and they are compelling.  Recently, I saw these figured published... Of every $100 spent at an out of state chain store, $14 goes back into the local economy. However, $45 of every $100 stays local when you practice being a locavore.  That's an extra 31% from buying local!  And we have heard how many different businesses and people that touches through the ripple effect.

Secondly, being a locavore saves the environment.  There is less gas burned for transportation, less packaging, less resources consumed.  We can feel good about conscious stewardship of our planet.

Third, it is fun to be a locavore.  Imagine the excitement around discovering the richness of Michigan grown products!  I'd be willing to bet there are many more products than you realized made right here in Michigan.  You'll never walk down the isle at the grocery store again the same way...or for that matter, along the road at the farmer's market.

Happy locavoring!

Scott Runyon, owner

The Healing Hands Company

Source for massage therapy, TempurPedic products and Outcall resources for the massage therapy profession in Michigan

From Wikipedia:

Local food (also regional food or food patriotism) or the local food movement is a "collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies - one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place"^[1] and is considered to be a part of the broader sustainabilitymovement. It is part of the concept of local purchasing and local economies, a preference to buy locally produced goods and services. Those who prefer to eat locally grown/produced food sometimes call themselves "localvores" or locavores.