Buying Local is Not for Everyone

The idea of “buying local” is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians. Purchasing food from a local farmer or a product from a small business is often more gratifying than lining […]
Published on May 9, 2014

The idea of “buying local” is becoming increasingly popular among Canadians.

Purchasing food from a local farmer or a product from a small business is often more gratifying than lining up at a large franchise. 

Sometimes local products are preferred to imports, because the products are fresher or simply better.

But the push to “buy local” can become a problem when people rail against large chains and foreign products.

Pushback against products because they aren’t local can have negative unintended consequences.

Relying too heavily on locally-grown food creates a dilemma when crops fail because of bad weather, resulting in shortages and higher prices.

Global trade which allows food to move all over the world gives us greater variety for our diet, as well as food security.

Large scale farming can generally produce more food per acre, while using less energy than small scale local farming.

Large retailers are able to sell some goods at a lower price, saving consumers a lot of money in the long run.

Some people cannot afford to pay twice as much for their groceries and other necessities.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier. 

And please visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Featured News

MORE NEWS

Teacher’s Striking

Teacher’s Striking

  In a recent Frontier commentary, Michael Zwaagstra argues that teacher strikes, such as those seen in Saskatchewan, unfairly disrupt student learning and should be replaced by binding arbitration—a system already in place in Manitoba. He contends that strikes...

Why Canada Still Deserves A Cheer

Why Canada Still Deserves A Cheer

Senior Fellow Gerry Bowler says it’s time to stop apologizing and start celebrating. Canada has pioneered peace, democracy, and invention—from insulin to instant replay—while offering a better path on Indigenous relations than most of the world. So why the shame? Bowler urges Canadians to stand tall this Dominion Day and reclaim their pride.