I want to shop local, but when I google locally owned stores they’re all boutique-type stuff or restaurants. How do I find deodorant and a bag of sugar?

  •  bleistift2   ( @bleistift2@sopuli.xyz ) English
    15·
    10 months ago

    I don’t believe, at least in Germany, that it is possible for sugar to be made ‘locally’ at a reasonable price and with enough volume to be able to stock shelves. I don’t see why the situation should be different in (I assume) the US.

    You might try gift shops. They sometimes have ‘fancy’ versions of basic stuff to gift away. Looking at their products and producers might give you a hint at where to start researching.

    You could open Google maps (or any other commercial directory) and try to find shops in your town that you wouldn’t otherwise notice because they don’t advertise on channels you’d consume.

    •  meteorswarm   ( @meteorswarm@beehaw.org ) 
      1·
      10 months ago

      The US made a lot of its own sugar in the past either though sugar beets, or by growing cane in the extreme south, but that era is largely over (ignoring corn syrup): it’s cheaper to import it from places where imperialism keeps wages low.

      Most US food is not local, unless you go to a farm share or market.

  •  Wahots   ( @Wahots@pawb.social ) 
    1·
    10 months ago

    Check out refilleries in your area if you have them. You’ll pay a bit of a premium, but they are usually high quality, local goods and low/no plastic. Usually stuff like soaps, personal care, that sort of thing. They are a godsend if you or someone you know is allergic to fragrance(s) too, as they have a variety of unscented soaps, dishwasher detergent, etc.

    And, you get to bring your own bottles to refill, which is kinda nice if you like to buy in bulk.

    Sugar is gonna be hard to find, since it has to be imported, unless you have sugarbeet farms in your area.