Buy local! The chant gets louder

If you're going to buy groceries, why not choose things that didn't make a 3,000-mile trip to get here. Instead, try 100 miles. It makes sense on a few different fronts, but mainly you're keeping the money in the state. And that's a big boost for Michigan and its farmers.

Oh, and the carbon footprint of local food is considerably smaller than that of food coming from California. So, think about it.

Excerpt:

Buying local is gaining momentum in Michigan.

And that's why human resources consultant Lisa Diggs, who runs the Catalyst Co., has launched Buy Michigan Now, a statewide volunteer campaign with a goal of inspiring, educating and convincing people to spend money locally.

"The Buy Michigan Now campaign is about heightening awareness and revitalizing our state's economy one product, one purchase and one business at a time," she said.

And the buy local movement is catching on in Michigan as the state's economic fortunes have dwindled.

Diggs' campaign and Web site, www.buymichigannow.com, gained a shot in the arm last winter when the auto CEOs testified before Congress.

Read the entire article here.

Another piece about Spartan food stores promoting "Buy Michigan" here.