I shot a magazine assignment last month about local farmers markets, which seem to be popping up everywhere.  I think this rise in popularity is a good thing, considering the impact they have on the local economy. Nowadays we should try to carry this over to all of the products we buy. I recently read an article that really states the facts, and this was from 2007, BEFORE what began happening with the economy this year.

Here’s an excerpt  from that article: A 2002 Economic Impact Analysis in Austin, Texas, was one of the first major studies to examine the impact of shopping at local businesses versus national chains. It found that for every $100 spent at a local bookstore or CD store, $45 stayed in the local economy. For every $100 spent at Borders, however, the local economic impact was only $13. A study in Maine the following year yielded similar results: Shopping local kept three times more money in the local economy than shopping at chains. The studies cite several reasons for this. Proportionally, local merchants tend to employ more local labor and buy more local goods than national competitors, which operate from remote headquarters. Local business owners keep their profits in state, and contribute more to local and state taxes. Local businesses are also more likely to promote local artists and authors.

Anyway, I thought I’d share a few images. These are all from the local farmer’s markets around Richmond. (Byrd House Market, Shockoe Bottom Market, and The Bryant Park Market)