Cherry blossoms . . . ., photo by Dr. Farnsworth.

Over on Absolute Michigan today we’re featuring the new Taste the Local Difference guide. This year they are encouraging folks to sign up to Spend $10 on Local Food – a small step that can make a big difference in Michigan’s economy.

Sustainable Table explains:

Buying locally or directly from farmers can dramatically increase a farmer’s income. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardener’s Association published a study (pdf) that demonstrates what would happen if consumers shifted 1% of their purchasing power to buy locally grown products: farmers would see a gain of 5% in their income. Even better, buying direct from a farmer sends 90% of those food dollars back to the farm. Increasing farm income means more money can be spent locally by the farmer to run their business and home, helping keep the local economy alive.

Annually, Americans consume more than $600 billion in food. In most communities today food is purchased entirely at a grocery store or market, with only about 7% of local food dollars staying in the community. The other 93% of the modern food dollar travels to pay processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers and the rest of the infrastructure that a global food system demands, a stark comparison to 40% in 1910 by contrast, 40% of food dollars spend remained in the local economy. When more food dollars stay in the community, through buying local, they are transformed into thriving main streets and local jobs.

Check this out background big and in Dale’s slideshow.