Chicama Run Family Farm

This is something that comes up a lot these days, doesn't it?  Every time I go out, I see "Buy Local" stickers on the back of cars and all this wonderful stuff that should make me (as a farmer) warm and fuzzy.

However, are you really supporting local?

A couple of years ago (I think), I wrote about what local actually means to people.  This is up for debate, and I really don't want to start one here because it does mean a lot of different things to different people.

I am not a person who only buys LOCAL.  In other words - I buy from PA, MD, & WV.  Local in my personal opinion is from people in LOUDOUN COUNTY.

WHY?  Because, you buy from people in LOUDOUN (my county), the money goes back into THIS COUNTY!

Personally - I pay taxes here, I send my kids to school here (ok well 2 stay home but you get the idea), I shop here, and this is where I plan to stay for awhile.  I want to see good things come to one of the richest counties in the nation.  Period.

When I buy from another farmer from another state or even another county in this state, I am helping support THEIR county - not mine.  See where I'm at with this?

Yes, I know you can save some money with out of state/out of area co-ops that deliver and all that jazz.  But where is that money going to?  Someone recently mentioned that our egg prices are high ($4.50/dozen - and I haven't raised the price in over a year - even though feed prices have gone up..... but watch for one at the farmer's market - just because of the extra fees for selling there)...  most people in the area are selling their eggs for $5+ - I don't think we are expensive.  Yes, I saw them when we visited PA for $2.50/dozen... but I couldn't see the chickens.  If they were delivered to me - I wouldn't know anything about the farm really except what someone else told me.  That would make me nervous.

I won't discourage anyone from buying from a local farmer's market at all!!  It's super convenient to have all the vendors in one place and as a busy person, I get it.  But maybe think about some of the other things you shop for and see if they CAN be gotten in Loudoun County (or whatever county you live in).  Or maybe select a Loudoun County farmer over someone else, even if the price is a little higher.  Trust me, we KNOW all about the taxes in the county - we pay them just like you do and so a lot of time our prices MIGHT be a little higher to compensate for those evil taxes that keep popping up demanding to be paid ;)

Off my really short soap box now ;)