September 2012
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Will Food Shortages Make Vegetarians of All of Us?
This is a scary number. The world’s population is on schedule to hit 9 billion by 2050. As the Earth is not getting larger, this means more people taking up more food and less room to grow food. This means more food shortages. And if we continue to experience extreme droughts like the one hitting parts of the US this summer, food shortages are going to become more prevalent.
Right now humans...
August 2012
7 posts
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Our New Obsession: NOVIS Collection
I want every piece from infant line NOVIS, launched earlier this year by designer Jordana Warmflash. (Best last name ever? I think so). NOVIS Collection is named for Jordana’s grandmother Gwen Novis Warmflash and is timeless and classic while being on trend with the season. And the texturally driven fabrics just scream out to be touched! With demure yet sexy silhouettes, it’s going to be hard to...
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New Orleans Goes Bananas…
You know what’s next – B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
Did you know you can grown bananas in Louisiana? I sure didn’t, but you can and people are! For years actually – I’ve just been out of the loop on this one. However, most of the bananas New Orleanians grow are either small and ornamental or just good for cooking.
However, that’s all about to change. Read more at Locallectual.com…
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Eating Local Gets Giant
It’s just about that time of year where wives lose their husbands and Sunday afternoons (and evenings) are spent in front of the tv – football season. And there’s an unlikely player taking the field this season – local foods.
Local foods have made a prominent appearance at the New York Giants training camp at the University of Albany. And this is not just a quick run…
Read more at...
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State Parks Next to Go American Made?
Last year, we reported about leaders in Washington attempting to get all goods sold in the Smithsonian’s gift shops to be made in the USA. Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont was joined by other leaders in insisting that the taxpayer-funded museum should do its part to promote American businesses. For the past year the National Museum of American History has had an American-made gift shop. I’m not...
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Will American Manufacturing Decide the...
It’s Olympics time, and if these Olympics Games have shown us anything, it’s that Americans care about American manufacturing (you heard the one about the Made in China uniforms, right?). As the Alliance for American Manufacturing reported, American voters see manufacturing as the industry “most important to the overall strength of the American economy” and that strengthening this industry and...
July 2012
12 posts
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Not All Olympic Uniforms Are Created Equal – Team...
If you’ve been able to avoid hearing about the “Made in China” opening ceremony uniforms Team USA will be wearing during the London Olympics Opening Ceremony then you may be living under a rock as it’s been all over the internet and television. Even though this is Ralph Lauren’s practice and his company has been making the uniforms for the past few Olympics, the practice has finally gotten under...
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Support Team USA with American-made Olympic Wear!
Love Team USA? Sure you do! The Olympics makes sports fans out of everyone, let’s be honest. And next week starts 2 weeks of 24/7 sports courtesy of NBC. If you ever read any internet news sites (or the Locallectual blog!), you’ve probably heard about the controversy surrounding the made in China Team USA uniforms from Ralph Lauren. The uproar from consumers and our reps in Washington have gotten...
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Will Amazon Same Day Delivery Kill Local Retail?
Amazon has been one of the biggest pains in local retail’s butts. They’ve been able to offer lower prices and cheap or free shipping and for a long time, no sales tax. The sales tax battle is changing and not in the favor of Amazon consumers or Amazon (they’re having to start charging tax in many states). However, Amazon is brushing the sales tax dirt off their shoulder and moving on to a new...
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New Englanders: More Reasons to Eat Local –...
Yup, that’s right! Get’em while they’re hot! U.S. News and World Report is reporting that a pound of soft shell lobster from Portland, Maine is now selling for roughly $3.79 to $4.99 per pound, which is “less than the per-pound price for bologna.” Lobster are currently in excess this season, so you can get the soft-shell crustaceans (they have a little less meat than the hard-shelled puppies but...
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Oh Say Can You See…The Made in China Tags on Team...
Honestly, I’m not sure anyone should be surprised by this, as Ralph Lauren has no commitment in place to American manufacturing. Yes, Ralph, once again has designed Team USA’s Olympic Opening Ceremony outfits, and yes, once again they aren’t made in the United States. I say once again because he designed the Chinese-made outfits for the Vancouver ceremonies as well. Why didn’t we hear about it...
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Local Mindsets Creating New Business Models in...
The American mindset towards agriculture and its economics are changing and getting national notice. You can thank the debate over the Farm Bill for this, along with other factors at play, making it the perfect atmosphere to change our agriculture model. Baby boomers, who make up a large portion of our current farmer population, are retiring…
Read more on Locallectual.com
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Williams-Sonoma Aids the DIY Locavore
illiams-Sonoma started in duh, Sonoma, California, in the 1950s and has since expanded its empire across the US. The fine culinary goods store supports American producers like All-Clad and Nordic Ware, and has expanded its product line in recent years to include foodstuffs from artisan producers.
This season it’s gone a step further, expanding its product line to help you, the at-home foodie,...
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Celebrity Locavore: Natalie Coughlin
We always try to feature those more famous members of society that are into the locavore movement because a) we want to show that it’s becoming a universal movement and b) it’s not just for the crunchy, hippy members of society (seriously people, buying local is so hot right now). So today’s feature is extremely timely as last week this celebrity athlete just qualified for her third Olympic...
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June 2012
30 posts
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Fourth of July Sales You Need to Know About
Another holiday, another excuse for a sale or two or three. Here’s a few Locallectual companies having 4th of July sales you should check out.
Love Ophelia (Made in Los Angeles, California): Extra 20% off sale items with code JULY4 (ends July 5th at 12am)
AG Jeans (South Gate, California): Semi-Annual Sale, Save up to 50% Off on Men’s and Women’s Denim and Apparel
Kiel James Patrick (made...
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Google Beats Apple to the Punch, Makes New Product...
Recently I wrote about how Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook intends to make more of Apple’s products in the US. We were excited to hear this but even more excited to hear the news coming from Google this week. Their new Nexus Q home media system is DEFINITELY being made in the US. In fact, it already is.
Read more about Google’s decision to manufacture in the USA and why more companies are bring...
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Locallectual Style: Celebrate America in Made in...
Denim designers have hit the jackpot with a new celebrity favorite – jeans covered in stars! Celebrities are spotting this tamer (and more forgiving) member of the patterned jean trend in droves. You can easily rock this trend and feel good about not only be stylish, but supporting American workers as American denim manufacturers including J Brand, Current/Elliot and AG are producing...
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Made in the USA Manufacturing on the Upswing
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how American wood furniture companies were moving their manufacturing back stateside after decades in China and other Asian countries. It turns out that furniture companies are not alone. In fact, BusinessWeek recently reported that with the cost of overseas production, along with fuel costs rising and many other factors, that Chinese manufacturing simple isn’t...
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Show Your Farmers Market Some Love
Help get your farmers market the recognition it deserves. Vote for it in the American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest. Learn how.
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Celebrate America By Touring Its Factories
Independence Day is around the corner, and for many that means summer vacation too. If you’re roadtrippin’ it, be sure to stop at some of the companies across the country that offer factory tours.
If you’re going to be in Pennsylvania this weekend, you should hit up York County, Pennsylvania’s 14th Annual “Made in the USA Tour Events” weekend.
Read more…
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The Farm Bill Passed the Senate. What Made the...
There was one thing both Senate Republicans and Democrats could agree on - the Farm Bill. With overwhelming bipartisan support (a vote of 64 to 35), the bill passed the Senate and is now headed to Congress, where apparently it will face tougher opposition.
80% of the bill’s spending is on the SNAP program, or food stamps, with plans to cut $4.5 billion from the program over the next 10...
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Jump Into Summer Solstice with an American-Made...
Happy Summer Solstice Locallectuals!
The longest day of the year also seems like the hottest here in Charlottesville, VA…and that makes me, at least, want to jump into a pool. So, friends, this is the perfect day to check your tags!
Mine: I usually bargain shop for suits at Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. (By the way, those stores are great for happy Made in the USA accidents if you...
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Music Made Local
[caption id=”attachment_7119” align=”alignright” width=”200” caption=”Charlottesville, VA duo The Honey Dewdrops with their Huss & Dalton instruments made in Staunton, VA”] [/caption]
I’ve been learning to play the guitar for a little over a year now and started to wonder where my guitar was made. A quick Google search brought up a video...
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No More "Made in the USA" labels? The World Trade...
Well this is interesting. Apparently the World Trade Organization is moving closer to eliminating country-of-origin labels and replacing them with âMade in the Worldâ initiative labels because the WTO says that “Today, companies divide their operations across the world, from the design of the product and manufacturing of components to assembly and marketing, creating international...
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What You Need to Know About the Farm Bill
Y’all heard about this Farm Bill that’s hit the Senate? It’s kind of a big deal as deals out some HALF TRILLION DOLLARS on crop insurance, conservation and nutrition programs. It includes legislation on programs that affects urbanites and country mice alike, like the SNAP (aka food stamps) as well as farmers and of course, you, the consumer. And not only is it big money, but a BIG bill – over...
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Why Furniture Favors the US
[caption id=”attachment_7055” align=”alignright” width=”160” caption=”Image via Woodworking Network”][/caption]
Did you know that US manufacturing grew 5.7% in 2010 and 2011? US furniture manufacturers are partly to thank for that. Not only are they bringing their manufacturing back stateside as production costs rise overseas, but they’re...
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The Newest Trend in Buying Local? Cash Mobs
Have you heard of a cash mob? Or a meal mob? If not, you better prepare yourself, especially if you’re a small business owner, because your business could be attacked soon by one of these mobs - and that’s a good thing.
Learn more about how cash mobs are helping small businesses across the country survive the recession.
Scene from a Cleveland mob:
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Father's Day Sales Roundup Part I
Following-up to our earlier blog post on our Locallectual Father’s Day choices, here are some great sales from across the web to purchase America-made for the dad in your life!
Jack Robie Shirts - made in NYC
20% off
truffle truffle of Chicago
Beer and Pretzel collection - 20% off with code DAD20
SurfMonk - made in Malibu, California
20% off men’s full length robes (exp...
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The Locallectual Father's Day Gift Guide 2012
Father’s Day is less than two weeks away, and honestly, it seems to me that every year the whole thing (like most holidays) becomes more and more commercialized. But I’ll be honest - I’ll take any excuse to shop. If you’re gonna give a gift and spend some money, why not help boost the American economy with some domestically-made gifts? It may seem like a daunting task to...
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Fill'er Up! What We Want in Our Closet Now: Raquel...
One of my favorite parts of Locallectual is discovering all the amazing designers designing and making their lines stateside. Yes, you may end up spending a little bit more for American-made apparel and other fashion needs, but you’re getting a limited-made, high-quality good. Plus, isn’t it comforting to know you more than likely won’t run into your outfit doppleganger out on...
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Calls for Entries - the 3rd Annual Made in the...
Hear ye, hear ye! Garden and Gun Magazine (my favorite zine) is looking for nominations for their 3rd Annual “Made in the South Awards”.
We’re big fans of this yearly award as they reward quality craftsmanship in products made in the American South (Virginia and below, got me?). Nominations are accepted in 4 categories âFood, Home, Outdoors, and Style & Design. A panel...
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PhiPlanet: DIY: Backyard Medicine →
phiplanet:
As a growing result of my permaculture class, I continue to feel my way to a more authentic relationship with the plants and animals that surround and sustain me. The last three weeks of my course helped me to discovered the medicinal value and edible potential of many common plants in the…
