|
Wisconsin Aquaculture Association, Inc. September 07, 2010 01:00 PM US Central |
 |
|
MADISON Despite challenging economic times, Gov. Doyles budget proposal will continue the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin program launched last year, and thats good news to the states grocers, says the Wisconsin Grocers Association. Offering local products is quickly becoming a popular thing to do in the grocery business, says Brandon Scholz, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. It brings in new customers into the stores and satisfies demand among current customers. It means grocers can offer seasonal products picked the same day or the day before it hits their shelves, and that their customers can buy meat and dairy products from farms in their own communities. They can offer their customers healthy eating while they boost their local economies , said Scholz. We applaud the Governors continued support at the state level to build the infrastructure for local suppliers which helps our members meet consumer demand. One way that state level support for buy-local efforts is that it allows cooperative efforts like one that has produced Grocers Buy Local, a new website where local producers and growers can find grocery stores looking for local products to stock their aisles. Consumers will find it useful, too, to locate grocery stores in their areas that sell local products. The site was developed with funding provided to the Wisconsin Grocers Association by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Its main feature is an interactive map of Wisconsin which, when a user clicks on a county, produces a list of grocery stores in that county that buy and sell local products. Partnerships like this with the private sector are invaluable to grow Wisconsin agriculture, and in these tight economic times, a good way to stretch state support, says Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Grocers Association did the leg work and the creative work to develop a tool to connect buyers and sellers who might have a hard time finding one another, and increase the inventory of local products available to consumers. When you think of buying local, you often think of fresh fruits and vegetables, but its so much more, says Scholz. Its dairy, meat, processed foods, baked goods, mixes, even personal care products like soaps and lotions and this website lets you know which grocers are interested in those product categories . If youre growing or producing, you can find an outlet for your products. If youre buying, you can find a source in your community. The website will continue to be updated adding more grocers from across the state who want to be listed on the site. A recent study of the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin program by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection showed that the states support of the program is bearing fruit, with $2 returned in increased local food sales for every $1 of state funds invested.
|
| Accepted Here |
Visa |
MasterCard |
Discover |
|
| The CREEL --newsletter of the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association | DIRECTORY of GROWERS | WAA News | New To Aquaculture | WAA Membership | WAA Events | Informational Slide Shows | WAA Classifieds | Members - ADD Your WAA Classified | WAA Links | WAA Members Hotlinks | Historical Articles | WAIAC | Cook's Corner | WAA Contacts - Officers and Board Members | Download WAA Forms | WAA Website Advertising | Welcome! |
View Our Privacy Statement.
Technical trouble? Contact our webmaster
ColdFusion™ Website Design proudly crafted by Lake Superior Explorer, Inc. Visit Email Website Hosting
You are visitor 177368