Blog 21

List at least one way locally sourced foods in South Carolina has a direct impact and one way it has an indirect impact on South Carolina’s economy. Is the Certified South Carolina Grown campaign worth the money put into the program? Explain in terms of economics and sustainability. Of the farming industries that were compared to NC and GA, which do you think is most important to expand and why?

One way locally sourced food has a direct impact on South Carolina’s economy is through the increased creation of jobs. Increasing local demand could potentially add 10,000 jobs, which would in turn affect the South Carolina economy. Another direct effect would be the funds that stem from local purchases and wages that impact the states economy. The indirect impact that local foods can be seen on the economy of South Carolina through the spending on in-state suppliers. Overall I feel that the Certified South Carolina Grown campaign is worth the amount of money that is put into it. I do also agree with the author that more money should be spent raising awareness about the program through advertising and marketing. Of the farming industries that were compared to North Carolina and Georgia, one area that would be important to expand would be in tree-nut farming because it had the biggest differential in the regional purchase coefficient. There was a difference of 80 percent in the regional purchase coefficient and tree-nut farming also had the lowest level of production.