I have written about local produce before, but this time I’m asking do you shop local?
This doesn’t mean your local major brand supermarket or the corner shop you pick up milk, bread or beers occasionally. I’m talking about a shop or store which offers something different…something special.
It could be a delicatessen or a food shop specialising in a country or countries cuisine. Maybe it’s a farm shop or farmers market (both being super local!), a butcher, fishmonger, greengrocer or a baker. Anywhere which inspires you, perhaps you find yourself being drawn there just to look around at all the lovely products they have.
People are always discussing in the news the “death of the high street”, blaming the big supermarkets due to their interesting strategy here in the UK of spending years telling us to shop at their slightly-out-of-town megastores to get better value and convenience, then returning to the high street with a “local”, “metro” or other quaint moniker to sell us the same generic products but at a slightly higher price.
This has pushed a lot of traditional shops and stores out of business as more and more restaurants, bars, fast food joints or other non-supermarket competitive business take up the space.
One of the only “bakers” you see on the high street now is a national brand with a big TV advertising budget.
What I really what to know is if the little guy is still making or can still make it big on the high street.
I have seen so many changes in the way we shop here in the UK, but it’s the same the world over. I remember getting of a plane in Bangkok and being a little shocked to see a Tesco store!.
When I was young we used to have fresh milk and other products delivered to the door…by an electric vehicle…in the 70s. That stopped in the 90s, but now it’s coming back. Maybe only because powerful supermarkets tell you it’s the right thing to do.
TV chefs are always telling us, pop to your local butchers as they will prepare you a particular cut of meat. But who has a local butchers anymore? If you do, and you’re in London, I bet they won’t do pork.
Where are the hard working, passionate local shop owners?
I am lucky enough to have a few local shops I use over supermarkets. In my area of London they tend to be either Indian or Sri Lankan stores. Cheep, fresh and have things which you would never find in even the biggest supermarket.
Tell me about your local shop heroes in the comments below. If you don’t have one feel free to complain about it here too 😉
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Our “local” shops are offshoots of the big box stores. Our nearest city’s downtown only has bars and strip clubs left. Even our city’s farmers market is full of imports.
I’m one of the lucky ones in that I live in the suburbs and there are a number of small farms around that sell locally grown produce when in season.
Trish recently posted..Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Trish, glad to hear that you do have some opportunity to get good local produce. Sad that your area, like so many others, has mostly fallen to the big corporations. We hear the term globalisation all the time…maybe we should make a change towards localisation!
Hello Michael……Funny you should mention the falling of the local shops…..we don’t have a local butcher shop close to where we live….We do have a couple places that will process your Deer during deer season ……I always did like summer sausage made from venison…..We do have a local Bakery that popped up and doing a great amount of business…..They open about 6:00 a.m. and close by noon five days a week……It is next to a convenience store where I get fuel for the car……This bakery has a line of people waiting every morning …..People love their fresh doughnuts and pastries every morning…. I hope they can do well for a long long time…..these types of businesses always seem more intimate or personal than the super stores…..Thanks michael….Smokey
Gregory Bowen recently posted..How Do You Tend Your Garden?
Smokey, Great to hear that you have a new local bakers starting up rather than shutting down. I’m not surprised they have queues if they are making good product, are knowledgeable and serving with a personal touch I don’t think people can resist!
Michael, I must be much older than you:-) When I was young, I remember the butcher coming round with a horse and cart, same with bread. My Grandma built a good business in the town where she lived, by delivering clothes and bed linen, towels and other products to people’s homes. We don’t have many small shops where I live, apart from cafes and restaurants. There is a butcher, but he’s part of a franchise.
Julieanne van Zyl recently posted..Gain Full Control of Your Internet Business
Wow Julieanne I certainly don;t remember deliveries by horse and cart 😉 It seem to be the cafes, bars and restaurants are taking over the world.
Local indie shops are alive and well across the UK. We’re building a free to enter list and make it available for anyone to search 🙂
That’s great and what a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing with us 😉
You know here in Boston, Massachusetts USA we have butcher shops and lots of local produce. We also have a huge selections of Saturday open sales of veggies fresh from local farms.
The one thing good about our home is the variety of markets, stores and fresh sea foods daily. They are just right out the door of most homes. We do not have to travel to a huge super market chain to gather our foods and produce.
I feel for you UK people and others who lack this easy of healthy fresh produce and other foods. We even have them delivered daily which is a plus for those who can not get out.
We lack nothing in healthy choices yet it is a personal choice and must in the capital of Massachusetts love to eat out daily vs cooking.
William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Getting Started – First Fundamental Activity
William great to hear you have lots of options in Boston. I must come over sometime and check it out 🙂
Not only are there endless places to enjoy yet must get involved with the fresh sea food area.
The way you enjoy food will be most welcome in Boston and I do look forward in being one who would love to walk you through our original areas that you will have amazing adventures testing all the delights!
I want to thank you for bringing such quality advice and methods in our lives. You are on of our great producers of exciting ways to enjoy food!
William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Getting Started – First Fundamental Activity
There are some beautiful local shops here where I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I love the farmer’s markets and the little organic shops here. They’re some of my favorite places to go . . . and I can totally relate to your description of them calling to me. One, in particular, really does.
Leanne Chesser recently posted..Can You Play to Find Your Soul’s Purpose?
Leanne, yes I have a few that call to me (especially if I happen to be walking passed!) interesting, varied and ever changing products are always much more attractive than the bland static supermarket fare.