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Change is hard and is often viewed with negativity and disdain. At times, those in small rural communities suffer from this type of thinking. Today’s economy is challenging the power of small rural communities to adapt and, in some cases, thrive.

Along with skyrocketing gas and oil prices, retail prices have also been rising. These price increases are linked to the higher transportation and shipping costs involved in getting products on the shelves.

We are accustomed to paying less for items brought from great distances than what we would pay for goods produced or manufactured locally. This is no longer the case. Large retailers and even online web distributors can no longer absorb the transportation and shipping costs and are passing those on to the consumer or even the producer.

Small rural communities and their residents have always had the luxury of running out of town to buy products more cheaply than can be produced locally. But with the higher cost of driving to a giant retailer and the increased price of goods to offset shipping costs, local retailers in small communities may actually be able to compete.

Buying locally produced food is a great way to begin to reverse the common practice of jumping in our vehicles and traveling miles to get items we could grow locally. Prices may still increase to reflect economic changes, but it will mean putting money in the pockets of people close to us rather than far away.

This is a more sustainable approach for all of our small rural towns. The pioneering spirit relied on ingenuity and creativity to survive. We need to bring it to the surface once again for those of us who call small rural communities home.

Farmers’ market season is upon us, so we can take advantage of that. We can start by thanking those who are producing the products and spreading our money to our neighbors rather than to far-flung producers.

Contact: Michael L. Holton for more information, michaellh@cfra.org or 402.582.4915.