Agriculture: Grocers Buy Local

On average, locally purchased products return $.70 of every dollar to the local economy. Non-local products return only $.40. Steve Deller, an economist at the UW-Madison, states that for every $100,000 of new sales of local food, 2.2. jobs are created and $77,000 of income is brought back in.

With our region's strong agriculture base, Thrive is partnering with the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA), WI Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and the Agricultural Innovation Center (AIC) on the WGA's Grocers Buy Local project to increase sales of Wisconsin food products in our region and to re-capture those dollars locally.
In 2010, these partners will work with targeted local grocers to increase the visibility of local Something Special from WisconsinTM (SSfWTM ) products, simultaneously working to increase the number of SSfWTM participants in the region to boost sales and increase local options. These efforts will be augmented by collaborative marketing efforts.

The result? More local product choices for consumers, increased sales for local grocers and producers, and more dollars retained within the regional economy.

Objective:
Increase retail sales of regional food by increasing product visibility, introducing new products, and marketing collaboratively, through a partnership with Something Special from WisconsinTM and Grocers Buy Local.

Learn more at www.somethingspecialwi.com
Download a PDF review of all of Thrive's major 2010-2012 initiatives (*11x17 recommended for printing).

Food Business Incubator Network (Food BIN)

How can we get more local products in local stores? Another side of local food as business is supporting the entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and new products in the world of food manufacturing. Thrive recently obtained a $100,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Authority (EDA) that is going to support three food business incubators in the region (Beloit, Mazomanie, and Monroe). These incubator kitchens can lower entry costs, reduce risk for entrepreneurs, and increase success rates by providing space, equipment, and critical technical assistance to entrepreneurs looking to add value to their food products - like turning tomatoes into tomato sauce, salsa, or soup. This low-risk investment is crucial to breaking down barriers to entering the marketplace.
"Something Special from Wisconsin has done a wonderful job opening up new markets for us. Their continued campaigning for the local food cause has helped us gain ground in grocery stores around the state.

We are very thankful to have such a strong partner like Thrive and Something Special from Wisconsin."

--Rufus Haucke, Keewaydin Organics
Read a Wisconsin Grocers Association magazine article discussing the impact of buying local.

"I think that there is a lot more talk out there about Wisconsin products. It is working. People are interested more than ever in local products. Keep it up. The idea will not become mainstream overnight, but the program so far has definitely built some momentum and awareness-- lots more than in the past."

--Dan Jacobson, L&L Foods, on Thrive & partners work to increase regional sales of regional foods

4 Stores Making it Easy to Shop Local


Just look for the Something Special from Wisconsin TM logo!

Metcalfe's Market Madison
Hilldale Mall, 726 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison, WI 53705
P: 608.238.7612
Hours: 24 Hours, 7 Days a week
Map it!

Miller & Sons Market, Verona
210 S. Main St., Verona
P: 608.845.6478
Hours: Mon.- Sat.: 6:30A-9:00P; Sunday: 6:30A-7:00P
Map it!

Mountin's Piggly Wiggly, Mayville
1440 Horicon Street, Mayville, WI 53050
P: 920.387.3220
Hours: 6:30A-10P Daily
Map it!

Daniels Sentry, Janesville
2501 W. Court St., Janesville, WI 53545
P: 608.752.0501
Hours: 6A-11P, 7 days a week
Map it!
Download a large version

Project Partners