Buying Local: The “Locavores”, Part One of a Series

Originally coined in California (where else), a “locavore” is a person that solely consumes foods that hail from within 100 miles of their residence.  Recently, as the green and protectionist movements have gained ever more traction, the concept of only eating locally grown or raised foods, has spread to other, let’s say more conventional parts of the country.  So, is the rationale for this behavior grounded in sound economics, or is it a fanciful fashion (that should remain indigenous to Cali)?

 

Farmer’s markets seem to be “sprouting” up in every neighborhood, with ever increasing frequency.  Proudly, farmer’s hawk their produce as fresher, and sometimes even as the patriotic alternative! What easier way to end our dependence upon foreign oil, and be American, than to pick a peck of pickled peppers?  The hype doesn’t end with the local farmer. Some progressive and enterprising merchants are now including tracking information on their perishables for food-mile conscious consumers.  What makes good marketing, however, doesn’t always conform to good economic principles. 

 

The recent push for local consumption is in large part focused around the notion of the “carbon footprint”.  It is argued that the closer to home the food item is grown and eaten, the lower the carbon footprint (or energy consumed).  Well, maybe yes, maybe no.  Don’t you know by now that there are very few absolutes, and that the world is largely composed on a palate of gray!  In the instance of food that is air freighted, the evidence generally supports the “greenie” case.  When food arrives by sea, rail, or road, the data is much less certain.  Let’s toss this “salad” around.

 

The amount of energy consumed in crop production is much dependent upon the specific farming practices and local conditions.  Think of the (electrical, water) cost inputs in New Zealand, for example, as compared to the western United States.  Potentially, the advantages of a shorter commute to market and a Sacramento table are overwhelmed by the differentials in utility usage / costs.  Growing vast quantities of an item in far away, energy efficient locations often trumps the inefficiencies of small, localized, expensive producers. 

 

The amount of energy consumed is much dependent upon how a specific item arrives at your house, and how it is prepared.  Making a short jaunt to the local market in your SUV for that half gallon of milk (and nothing else) you forgot is highly energy inefficient.  Fully 45% of the energy demands from a lowly potato, for example, come from the journey to your house, and how you cook it!  That hour baking a solitary spud in your conventional oven of decades past doesn’t earn you many EnergyStar points.   

 

So, while the intentions of “locavores” may be admirable and pure, it would be nice to find some additional, irrefutable evidence to support their buying and consumption habits.  The next installment in this series will seek to do just that.    

 

 

NFL Draft Words of Wisdom

As my eyes glazed over in between New York Giant draft picks, I heard a tete-a-tete amongst commentators.  They were talking about a player who had many problems throughout high school and had recently tested positive for drugs at the combine.  One guy reasoned that this guy should be given the chance, and with the amount of money on the table, he would be carefully watched, monitored and advised.  The other guy argued that when you give someone all that money they just become more, not less, of who they truly are.   I thought of guys like T.O. and Pacman and the like and my money is with the second commentator.  Drawing the analogy to business, it seems to me in light of some of the incredible indiscretions that have recently taken place in the CEO and CFO offices and beyond, that big money does shine a bright light on rather than dimming one’s true intentions.  But, I do wish Percy Harvin great, good luck!

Oh, yeah, and how about Hakeem Nicks (UNC) and Andre Brown (NCS) being picked by my G-men.  I can see them rooming together in training camp already!

Another Technological Abuse: “Sexting”

While  not having truly gotten comfortable with “texting” quite yet,  I read in today’s News and Observer about “sexting”.  This new wave is characterized by young girls, 13 or 14, sending photos of themselves, in various stages of “undress”, to juice up their boyfriends.  As these high school relationships are often transient in nature, once the break up occurs, these photos are then sent around to friends, or whomever!  In addition to the disgusting thought of these pictures being whisked haphazardly from cell phone to cell phone, it potentially makes it more difficult for true child predators to be prosecuted, according to the authorities.

As technology eases the ability to do just about anything, the capability to do something really bad is equally facilitated.  In the old days,  chances are that mom or dad dropped off a roll of film at the processing lab, where a photo processor and a parent got to “audit” the pictures before they became part of the family album.   

Sometimes progress isn’t really very progressive at all.

Raleigh-Durham #4 Most Desired City

Relocate America recently announced the Raleigh – Durham marketplace was selected at the #4th most desireable place to relocate in the United States.   I would like to strongly suggest that there are 3 cities ahead of ours on the list; feel free to investigate their opportunities prior to packing you bags and descending upon the City of Oaks or the City of Medicine!  For the entire list, check out www.relocateamerica.com.

Tulsa,  Oklahoma and Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas, numbers #1 and #2, likely gained their stature through the oil and gas plays that so predominate their economies.  Pittsburgh, at #3, was no doubt rewarded for their Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals.  Maybe Raleigh inked the #4 spot, assuming that Bill Cowher’s move from Pittsburgh to North Raleigh, was indicative of bigger and better things than Steelertown!

While the accolade is probably well deserved, it might serve our interests best at this point in the economic cycle to not be so popular.  One result of our popularity is that we are importing unemployment from other states.  Had we not been such a strong net importer of people of the past years, more of our native citizenry would assuredly be employed right now, putting less of a drain on our State’s ability to support its social welfare goals.  But, as that smacks of protectionism, which I deeply oppose, maybe we can carefully select, as opposed to openly welcome? 

Rather than magazines touting our fine environs, maybe they should create lists of the most desireable families that could potentially relocate to your state.  Put the recruiting shoe on the other foot, so to speak.    Similar to the incentives provided to entice corporations to become part of our tax base, we could offer the most sought after families stipends, relocation assistance, and maybe even sign-on bonuses to cross state lines.  Those less desireable could remain in California (only kidding).  We could follow the daily updates on some daily draft.com web site, sponsored by the North Carolina census!

So, we’re done with touting our fine city.  Publications need not put us on any lists.  It’s time for you to tell us why you should be granted access to #4; we’re not selling anymore, we’re buying.  That way, our entrepreneurial spirits will be rekindled, and we’ll once again be concerned with making progress rather than making due.  Our tax base will improve, prosperity will return, we’ll make those lists again…rinse and repeat, as they say.