Local Food Brands essay

PART A

There are two brands that human beings opt in food consumption. They are subdivided into local and non-local. The first one comprises drinks that are manufactured locally and that food which contains ingredients that are grown in Oregon. Non-local food brands are those that do not include any ingredients grown in Oregon and, thus, are imported from other places. Oregon farms are known for producing numerous nutritious ingredients that are presented in the local food brands. Some of these food and drinks that are available locally can be classified into dairy, ice cream, cheese, dried foods, honey, frozen foods, can and jars, canned fish, grains, bread and meat.

For the past two days, I have been enjoying local food and drinks. During that time I have taken Organic Valley and Rose valley as they are my favorite drinks. Organic Valley is made of milk and cream while Rose Valley is made of butter that are ingredients produced locally. For food products I have taken the Whiskey Creek Organics which major ingredient are berries, Truitt Brothers that is made of fruits and vegetables, and Grateful Harvest Farm that is made of fruit rolls. All these ingredients of food brands are grown in Oregon, and there is no single element of an ingredient that is imported from other regions.

 

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The assignment with a motto of consuming local brands did impact some changes in my approach to the aspect of local food. While buying food and drinks, I had to take an extra step for finding the ingredients of the food product. After that, I consulted with experts in order to know whether the ingredients are grown locally. The assignment has changed the content of my shopping basket as I had to eradicate some food and drinks brands that are non-local. While accomplishing the assignment, several tricky situations occurred to me. Some ingredients could be grown locally, but it is not possible to trace whether it is the ingredient that has been used or a similar one but from another region. This confused me but I finally made a decision to stick to my initial definition of local brands. The accomplishment of the assignment had no cost implications on my budget.

PART B

Local food brands do differ from non-local food brands in various aspects. They do not represent numerous externalities in comparison with the non-local food brands which are primarily reflected in the retail price. Localizing food brands that are usually imported by initiating plans to produce and process them has been challenged by key players in the food industry on the potential the region has in producing such food brands. Organic Valley and Rose valley that are produced and processed locally have many differences with same non-local food brands in terms of their costs. The ingredients of both drinks whether local and non-local are the same with minor differences. Willamette Valley (2014), is a widely known supplier of the two non-local brands of drinks which ingredients are taken from the Southern Willamette Valley farms. The drinks imported are ready for human consumption.

The retail price of the non-local drinks in comparison with the local ones is higher. The difference in prices is as a result of external costs associated with producing the drinks in other locations other than in their point of sale. The external costs both fall in two categories, namely, monetary and non-monetary costs. The first ones are reflected in the retail price of the drink. Non-monetary costs of importing are related with ethics, environmental impacts, creation of local jobs, and nutritional value.

While competing with local products, non-local producing firms of food and drinks brands have been under criticism of engaging themselves in un-ethical practices. In a bid to maintain their brands prices at competitive range, they may produce sub-standard drinks that do not meet the required standards. This may be resulted in consumption of low nutritious brands by consumers without prior knowledge. Mellino (2011) asserts that producing food locally will decrease carbon emissions due to participation in fewer import activities. The distribution network of non-local food and drinks has led to negative environmental impacts due to carbon emissions.

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The availability of non-local drinks has a negative impact on the local firms that produce the local brands. The local companies are not able to fully acquire the whole market segment due to competition with the non-local producing firms. In some instances, rivalry is so stiff that the local firms do adopt measures that negatively affect the residents. Such measures include layoffs and underpayment in efforts of cutting down their operational expenses. Low entrepreneurial is also exhibited with the presence of non-local brands leading to few varieties of the drinks flavors. Consuming the local drinks will, thus, increase sales, encouraging more production which can have positive impacts such as more varieties, nutritious drinks, minimal adverse environmental impacts and creation of local jobs. Opting to consume the locally produced drinks since the ingredients are the same with non-local should be the best option.