April 9

Probably the biggest way locally sourced foods in South Carolina has a direct impact on SC’s economy is job production. The bigger agribusiness is in South Carolina, the more jobs are produced. This is vital in a state that struggles increasingly with unemployment. Employment is also the biggest indirect impact that locally sourced foods in South Carolina has on SC’s economy. When food is produced here, we also need people to handle manufacturing needs that come as a result of local farming, such as packaging, and more.

While it is still too early to know for sure whether the money put into the CSCG program is worth it, it potentially can see a high return economically. In terms of sustainability, it is certainly worth it. Identifying what is grown in South Carolina puts knowledge in the hands of the consumer. By allowing them to know where their food is coming from and seeing for themselves the difference between locally grown food and nationally/internationally distributed food they are well on the path to becoming food-literate and therefore knowledgeable about sustainability food-production wise. Giving that understanding to the consumer is probably the most important step toward a more sustainable society.

I was a little lost in understanding the methodology in the comparison between SC, NC and GA, but from what I do understand, the most important farming industry to expand would be tree-nut farming, because that seems to be where the biggest discrepancy lies.