All Economics Is Local

As the relentless forces of globalism seemingly march towards complete domination of our economic environment, it’s fascinating to see the most ancient and local of all economic forces starting anew in the United States: the market.

Mark Patronizes Saturday Market

Yesterday, I walked about 3 blocks from my house to the local Saturday Market (the “farmers’ market”). It’s only May, so the produce was lacking – but I did manage to pick up a dozen eggs and a single zucchini. I have to confess, I don’t really like zucchini, but as it was the only thing yet in season (sort of), it seemed an excellent purchase at the time. After arriving back home, I looked at the zucchini and the eggs, thought for a moment, shrugged, and made scrambled eggs and zucchini – as if just on prinicple.

In our world where food has become globalized, standardized, and industrialized, the local market provides a refreshing counter-balance to the excesses of the modern age. Whereas an apple at the grocery store (or supermarket) may have been flown in from Argentina, the apple at a market stand is probably from just down the road. While most of the zucchini at the store looks the same, you will find a wider variety and more interesting shapes harvested from your local farmer’s fields. As a general rule, you will find more bugs and fewer pesticides – always a good thing.

The resurgence of farmers’ markets throughout the US is undeniable, but what makes them truly competitive? It certainly isn’t price. A dozen (oddly shaped, multi-colored) eggs will set you back at least $4. Even with superior products, the price is difficult to justify. The joy of walking to go shopping perhaps? Or the human interaction for the more social among us? Maybe it’s a submerged desire to eat food grown from local soils, or the search for a meaningful connection between consumer and grower – who can say?

We shouldn’t forget that most nations have never given up their local markets, and that it’s almost an American curiosity that they were so sparse throughout the country. Fortunately, Americans don’t… or… used not to worry about market economics. No one mourned their loss, and no one need worry about the implications of their comeback. It’s simply the market working its own course, it’s in own time.

One thing to note, however. Should energy prices rise dramatically, the local farmers’ markets will benefit substantially at the expense of the supermarkets. I love Argentina as much as more than the next guy, but it just won’t make any sense to ship  food thousands of miles away. You see, the lifeblood of globalism is cheap energy, and without it, the patiently waiting forces of localism will burst forth. Perhaps, these counter-trend forces are laying the groundwork as we speak.