Wednesday, December 1, 2010
{The Blue Banner}
Page 23
The Blue Bannefs View
Shopping locally increases Asheville’s sustainability
In Asheville, alternatives to the
corporate system of mass production
are everywhere. Residents have the
ability to locally source everything,
from food and beer to clothing, art
and movies. This cannot and should
not be taken for granted as these alter
native systems of production are not
easily sustained.
The days of mom-and-pops are
largely nonexistent in today’s global
ized mass-marketed culture because
they run against the cheap, quick
access large conglomerates provide.
An ethic of care thrives in Asheville,
especially in regards to food.
“I think relationships have been
damaged and destroyed,” said Grace
Campbell, lecturer at UNCA, in
response to the industrialized food
system. “We don’t have a very hospi
table environment for affiliative ties.
I don’t think we’re affiliated with
Archer Daniels Midland for example.
We don’t know who is making deci
sions in these large companies. And
so we can say one of the costs is los
ing care and the ethics of care.
We don’t care about one another
because we don’t have a chance to
experience our interdependence. And
the food system isn’t the only way -
this is true, but it is one major way
that it is true.”
Even if people don’t participate in
buying locally produced food, they
know that it is a largely a system
other locals support. At least every
other car one passes beams “Locally
Produced Food: Thousands of Miles
Fresher” on its bumper.
With more than 12,000 family
farms in Western North Carolina, the
supply of locally grown food is more
than sufficient. Although Whole
Foods may have cornered the market
in buying out One of the largest al
ternative grocery,stores, there are 13
tailgate markets in Buncombe County
alone that are open every Saturday in
various parts of town.
Even during the winter, the ability
to purchase local products will remain
because numerous restaurants around '
town support the local food economy
and carry various meats and whole
foods on their menu.
“People that value local food and
have the awareness to understand the
sustainability issues are very highly
principled people that are willing to
pay more, is what it boils down to,”
said former owner of Greenlife John
Swann. “Another person is just going
to say, ‘Who cares, I can get it for less
at Wal-Mart.’”
Budgets and the economy are large
factors in the ethical dilemma of buy
ing local for a few more cents on the
dollar or rushing through Target in a
hurried daze. It is the price and avail
ability that ultimately decide the fate
of consumers’ almighty dollars.
But if people knew that the winter
coat they decided to buy their child
actually cost the life of another child
overseas, would the $5 price differ
ence persuade the consumer to find a
locally made one or one that ensures
fair trade standards? Ethical issues
such as child slavery in apparel fac
tories and chemical pesticides in the
food industry have pushed demand to
local markets.
The local clothing industry is
bolstered with trendy and conserva
tive styles made locally or without
the use of sweatshops. These in
clude Honeypot, Hip Replacements,
Push, Virtue and The Old North State
Clothing Company.
“The potential that Asheville has
to grow in unique and more diverse
ways is delightfully exciting. The
opportunity to become involved in the
community and create real connec
tions with creative people striving for
quality of life is inspiring,” according
to Franzi Charin, co-owner of Hip
Replacements.
So whether people are shopping for
knee-high stockings or simply buying
groceries for the week, an important
ideal f or them to keep in mind is
how they feel about this alternative,
progressive and largely self-sufficient
town. It runs on consumer dollars
and needs the support of its people
in order to fight corporate domina
tion. Local is the new black as the
cute new slogan says, and Asheville
should keep it that way.
The Blue Banner Editorial Board
Karpen Hall 019 (828) 251-
Erin McWhorter, Editor-in-Chisf
emmcwhor@unca.edu
Alyssa Spencer, Managing Editor
afspence @unca .edu
Ashleigh Joyner, News Editor
amjoyner@unca.edu
Caitlin Byrd, Arts & Features Editor
mcbyrd@unca.edu
Natalie Pearson, Sports Editor
ngpearso@unca.edu
Jacob Yancey, Campus Voice Editor
jayancey@unca.edu
Megan Dombroski, Photography Editor
mkdombro@unca.edu
Isabel Maxwell, Arti/ert/s/rtg Director
inmaxwel@unca.edu
6586 WWW. thebluebanner. net
. Anna Kiser, Design Editor, Business Manager
aekiser@unca.edu
Nicolas Robinson, Web Editor
Kendall Brooks, Investigative Reporter
Jessica Yee, Copy Desk Chief
Katherine Walker, Assistant News Editor
Hali Ledford, Ass/sfanf Arts & Features Editor
Katie Saylors, Ass/sfanf Photography Editor
Jordan Paris, Assistant Web Editor
Carson Boyles, Assistant Design Editor
Tiffany Narron, The Blue Banner’s View
Michael Gouge Faculty Adviser
Have a news tip?
send to emmcwhor@unca.edu
The Blue Banner is UNC
Asheville’s student newspaper.
We publish each Wednesday
except during summer sessions,
finals week and holiday breaks.
Our office is located in Karpen
Hall 019.
The Blue Banner is a
designated forum for free speech
and welcomes letters to the
editor, considering them on basis
of interest, space and timeliness.
Letters and articles should be
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the appropriate section editor.
Letters should include the
writer’s name, year in school,
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articles are subject to editing.