Support your local (insert producer here!)
I try, I love farmers markets, mom & pop liquor stores, bakeries, and restaurants. But I have a problem with supporting them at the cost of consuming an inferior product.
If the local guy makes beer just as good as (insert your favorite brewery here) but it costs a couple bucks more I buy local. I remember hearing Fritz Maytag talk about the sour disappointing beer he produced when he first bought Anchor Brewing. It took him 3 or 4 years to develop his "Steam Beer" and then another 6 years to finally break even but he stuck to making beer that was as good or better than the competition. Now we know him as the "Father of Micro-brewing."
My point is by all means support your local (insert producer here) but hold them to the same standards as you would the big name whatever!
I went to a bakery in El Segundo this last weekend. They were promoting a local coffee roasting company (I think it was Groundwork) but I'll be honest it didn't even smell good, it smelled burnt! Yes they might have burnt the brew but they acted like that was how it was supposed to taste. As I walked out I could hear someone behind the counter arguing about the choice to switch to the new coffee producer. If he had listened and offered the guy a freshly brewed cup I probably wouldn't have thought twice but he said the that catchphrase that seems to excuse mediocrity, "We wanted to support a local (insert producer here)"
I'll admit I'm a coffee snob, I love Peet's coffee, granted it's not local to you but in my heart Berkeley is still just stones throw away!
I have enjoyed brew from 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters.I'm planning on getting some more of that soon. (Thanks for the heads up on that one B!)
I love local whatever it may be, but I'll admit I'm spoiled it needs to be good! Don't let that wonderful catchphrase be an excuse to produce mediocre or inferior product. That is what make buying local worth it. It might cost a couple bucks more but it's better than what they get in the next town over!
