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4 Reasons Why Supporting Local Businesses Can Help the Community Thrive

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4 Reasons why Supporting Local Businesses can help the Community thrive

Buying local and supporting small businesses has been the talk of the town in recent years. But why is that? What makes local farmers, producers and artisans the key to a thriving community?

Local businesses lie at the heart of a community. When we buy locally, we help to strengthen our community by prioritising people and the planet. This article outlines 4 main reasons why supporting local businesses can benefit our families and our community.

1. Economic Benefits

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Buying from local farmers and suppliers keeps people employed and creates more economic activity within the community. A 20% shift to local food in Australia could generate at least A$50 billion, leading to higher employment rates and a stronger economy.

A survey also found that three-quarters of small business owners are more likely to preference local suppliers that they have personal relationships with and feel they can trust over larger corporations.

Investing in local businesses causes the Boomerang Dollar effect. The Boomerang Dollar effect is based on the idea that when we shop locally, local businesses will reinvest back into local initiatives. Incredibly, small businesses are investing around 42% of their annual revenue back into the local community! This includes salaries of local employees, local suppliers and local community groups like schools, charities and sponsorships.

The recent pandemic highlighted the ability of local supply chains to meet social needs and maintain or even develop their business in the face of economic shock and supply shortages. When the supermarket shelves were empty, many people looked to local suppliers. Local producers kept up with the demand and supply when the global supply chain collapsed. It provided stability when we needed it most.

When buying local produce we are supporting Aussie farmers and makers who take pride in the quality of their product and show great stewardship when contributing and giving back to their community.

2. Social Benefits

Livelihoods and Relationships

Shopping at a local level and buying local produce not only supports farmers, it also supports their families.

They make major sacrifices because they are truly passionate about what they do. Like the Boomerang effect suggests, they want to give back by providing nutritious, high quality products. It’s produce that you can buy with the confidence of knowing it is locally and regeneratively grown – without the nasties!

Supporting local businesses sustains their livelihoods and their families, providing them with the energy and the resources to give back to the community. The local economy forms a cascade of relationships and a network of customers, businesses and suppliers that build trust amongst each other by providing support and honest information. It’s these very connections that are essential to a thriving community.

3. Health Benefits

75% of chronic illness is lifestyle related and it is our food systems that underpin this. Industrialised agriculture uses methods that destroy soil biology and depletes it of nutrients. When food is grown regeneratively (with healthy soil) the nutritional value increases dramatically.

Alongside boosting dietary minerals, regenerative produce is also bursting with phytochemical richness! Phytochemicals have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that are vital to our health and can protect us from illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

This is also true for meats and animal products such as eggs. Studies have found that Grass-fed animal concentrates have significantly higher amounts of phytochemicals compared to those that have been grain-fed.

By supporting local and eating fresh fruits, vegetables and meats with higher nutritional value, we are choosing to prioritise the health of our family and ourselves. In the long run, it can take pressure off the already over-run healthcare system and free up government funding for other initiatives.

Local producers listed on The Backyard Pantry value nutrition over profit and care deeply about the quality of their product. When you connect with local suppliers and farmers, you can ask questions directly and ensure you’re well informed about their growing methods. For them, healthy living and the community’s wellbeing is at the forefront of all that they do.

4. Environmental Benefits

In the midst of our current environmental crisis, supporting local businesses is a wonderful way to reduce our ecological footprint.

Long vs Short Supply Chains

Commercial supermarkets have complex logistics, with many products imported from other countries and other parts of Australia. The associated food miles and use of chemicals like fungicides, sanitizers and delayed-ripening technology used to preserve the ‘freshness’ of produce have alarming impacts on the environment. It’s a major reason why it is said that agriculture contributes to 18.4% of global emissions.

Not surprisingly, shopping locally has become a key part of the solution. In most cases, local businesses have shorter supply chains due to their proximity to local customers. They require less travel time, reducing time on the road and in turn, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The length of time between harvest and sale plays a key role in the environmental impact of short supply chains. It often translates to less storage time, processing and packaging which can save energy and resources.

At The Backyard Pantry, we have local producers, who are committed to regenerative farming practices.  They work hard to farm in a sustainable and ethical way by nurturing and managing the land, reducing the use of chemical sprays and promoting soil health.

Food Waste

If global food waste was a country, it would be the third largest green house gas emitter behind China and the US. Crazy isn’t it?!

It’s common knowledge now that commercial supermarkets throw out food that is not aesthetically pleasing. Craig Reucassel on the War on Waste travels to a Banana Farm where he discovers the strict cosmetic standards set by commercial supermarkets.

The great thing is that supporting local farmers and artisans can help reduce food waste. Local suppliers are more interested in the nutritional value of the product – so you can trust the quality despite there being some unique shapes and sizes!

It's Worth Every Cent

It’s pretty incredible the value locally grown and made products can bring to the table.

Buying local taps into the four building blocks (economic, social, health and environmental) that help a community thrive. The Backyard Pantry enables our local farmers and artisans within the local community to sell and market their locally grown and made products directly to you.

By investing in them, we are investing in ourselves and our communities. I can’t help but say it – it’s a win, win for everyone!

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