The Saturday Food Chain with Michael Olson- January 12th 2013- Can We Shop Our Way Back to a Strong Local Economy?

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Can We Shop Our Way Back to a Strong Local Economy?

WEEKLY NEWS TOPIC
Busting Out Big – Think Local First

Michael Olson hosts
Stacey Mitchell, Institute for Self Reliance
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Can we shop our way back to a strong local economy?
Since 1994, the number of farmers markets in the U.S. has increased from 1,744 to 7,864, and more than 1,000 local grocers have opened their doors in neighborhoods throughout the land.
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The United States is truly beginning to think local first when buying its food.
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But so much for thinking big about buying small.  U.S. business continues to grow big… bigger… biggest:  Five U.S. banks now hold 56% of all the money.  One grocer now sells 25% of all the food. One website now sells 33% of everything sold online.
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Big business is getting bigger, small business is getting smaller.  What happens when medium-sized business becomes, as the saying goes, “roadkill?”  How then will big business continue to increase its market share, if not by taking the share held by small business?  And by individuals?
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Will big business make it impossible for individuals to grow food for their  communities, and themselves, in order to continue expanding its market share?

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This thought­, and the fact the citizens across the land are now being prosecuted for growing their own food on their own property, lead us to ask…
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Can we shop our way back to a strong economy?