Buying local benefits
you
, your community
and the environment.
Choosing to support
local farmers
, service providers
and manufacturers
has many advantages.
Why was the Cape Made Mark™ and Cape Grown Mark created?
Better
quality
When you buy and eat local products, you know your food didn't have to travel long distances. Local food products are fresher and more nutritious than products that have spent time in transit, packaging and storage. The food products you find at farmers markets and local shops are bound to be fresher than those in large retailers.
Clearer
sources
When you buy local, you’re more likely to know where your food comes from and what was involved in its creation. It is also much easier to find out which chemicals and manufacturing processes were used. Knowing details about where your food comes from gives you a chance to make healthier choices.
Higher
nutrition
As food sits in storage or transit, it loses its nutrients. By the time it gets to you, it’s unlikely to have the same health benefits. Timing and travelling distance matters.
Better
taste
When produce has to travel to a faraway retailer, the farmers must pick it early, before its peak ripeness. Local food sellers are able to harvest their produce at the right moment, resulting in a better taste.
Environmental benefits
Less
carbon emissionsTransporting products from far away burns fossil fuels and in many cases, requires temperature-controlled storage and industrial machinery to move around.
A product that does not have to travel by plane or ship has a much smaller carbon footprint.
A product that does not have to travel by plane or ship has a much smaller carbon footprint.
Less
pollution and wasteSince local products need little transport, they require far less packaging than products shipped across the country. The lighter reliance on packaging helps decrease pollution and landfill waste.
Encourages
cultivation diversity
Large-scale production limits diversity because plants and animals must have uniform qualities, like the ability to survive transport. Smaller farmers are able to produce a wider variety of crops and livestock which promotes a healthier ecosystem.
Economic benefits
Boost the
local economy
When you buy local, you’re putting money back into your local community rather than giving it to national chains or foreign corporations.
When more money is spent in the Western Cape, local businesses will have bigger profits and their businesses will grow.
Improve
social mobility
Small and medium businesses often pay higher wages than larger national chains. By supporting locally-owned businesses you can help bridge wealth and equity gaps in nearby communities.
Better
service levels
By supporting a diverse group of small and medium local businesses, you get more choice and better service levels than supporting a small number of big corporate companies.
Generate
local jobs
When local businesses do well, they provide more jobs and opportunities in your town and province.
When more people have jobs it creates stability in the community and means that less people turn to crime.
Follow
us on social media to learn more: