The way we usually get food is through supermarkets, online shopping, or food delivery apps, but there’s a player on the field that is very valuable, and we seem to forget that.
The small grocery store is to be cherished, according to research, for economic, social, and food system reasons.
Feeding the Local Economy
Choosing your local grocery store over a big supermarket is directly investing in your community. For every dollar you spend at a local business, 45% returns to the community and recirculates. For a chain retailer, this percentage is between 13 and 15%. It’s called the local multiplier effect, and it’s a real economic phenomenon.
Local businesses retain more value because they spend more on local people: suppliers, workers, and services. They rely on the community, and they are more likely to give back.
Among other things, they often work with local producers and farmers to bring the food to their neighbors, or they produce some of the goods themselves. Some green grocers will have their own farms, orchards, or handiwork available at the store, so you will know exactly who you’re buying your food from.
In other words, a small grocery store like the Whispering Pines Fruit Farm can act as an anchor in a small town or an urban area that’s become a food desert, providing healthier food options, helping people connect, and creating more activity in town centers. This especially helps older adults and low-income families, as they have the most trouble when they need to travel farther to get food.
A small grocery store can also support other businesses around it in rural areas, as it increases foot traffic and brings more people to the center. And in rural places, they are often one of the last remaining public spaces where people can spend time together and build relationships.
Healthier, More Accessible Food
Small stores help fight food deserts, which exist in both urban and rural areas. Access to small grocery stores in food deserts helps people eat more fresh produce, cook more, and spend more time together. The easier it is to get fresh ingredients, the more likely it is that people will prepare home-cooked meals.
According to the USDA, access to food stores nearby can help people make healthier food choices, as they actually have options. However, it is not only important for a store to exist. This is also affected by convenience, prices, education, and taste preferences.
But what happens in small stores is that they can have fewer redundant choices and focus more on fruits, vegetables, and staple foods. This can help people focus on what they actually need and reduce impulse buying.
Bulk Purchasing and Sustainability
Finally, there is the sustainability aspect of small grocery stores. Local stores that are integrated into the community help their neighbors make shopping decisions that are more economical for the buyers, more sustainable as they have less packaging, and convenient for the store.
Some stores offer bulk food systems that stop people from purchasing less or more of what they need, as they can precisely measure the amount of food they want to buy. This reduces food waste and packaging waste.
There are also options like pre-order, for deli, fruit, and other products, which help you calculate exactly how much you need, while the store can reduce its own food waste footprint.
So the local grocery store’s value is not only nostalgic. The store is a part of the infrastructure for many areas, and it helps the neighborhood grow stronger, healthier, and economically more stable.
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