We’ve come a long way from Jolly Ranchers and Jerky

Contact: Barbara Macfarlane
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For immediate release

Marczyk Fine Foods 2010 Summer News
We’ve come a long way from Jolly Ranchers and Jerky

Denver, CO – As Marczyk Fine Foods moves into its 9th year, we are amazed at what local now means.
When we opened, Colorado food products were few and far between. “Buy Colorado” meant the random jerky product next to the fool’s gold in any 16th St mall store, or Jolly Ranchers at the ski area ticket counters. Plenty of sweets, not much savory.
The ability to source Colorado products has improved dramatically. As with any free market there had to be a demand. The demand for good local fare was split between the hippies, who went to the farmers markets before they were hip, and the foodies, who scanned the restaurant menus looking for name brands. Here in Denver, Potager and Beehive led that charge.
Meat and poultry seems to be the hardest thing to bring back to local. As beef, pork and poultry production became more centralized in the Midwest, smaller slaughterhouses closed down. The issue

Other research of interest:
Mile High Business Alliance has gathered compelling information for buying local. Some of the key findings include:
• A modest change in consumer behavior - a mere 10% shift in market share to independent businesses from chain stores - would result in 1,600 new jobs, $53 million in wages, and a $137 million economic impact to the area.
• A dollar spent at a local business recirculates at least three more times in the community than a dollar spent at a non local business (Economic Multiplier Effect - local businesses are more likely to spend their $ at other local biz!)
• 1,632,077 - Jobs you support/sustain each year when you buy local.
• 98,675,000,000 - Dollars that stay in Colorado when you buy local
• 535,016 - Local businesses fueling Colorado’s economy

Read more here: http://milehighbiz.org/whylocal
BALLE the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, has national data on shopping local.  http://www.livingeconomies.org/netview/resources-and-studies/LFstudies.

Marczyk local vendors:
Oogies gourmet popcorn
Udi’s breads
Izze’s sodas
Oogave soda
Bing energy drink
Morning Fresh Dairy
Georgetown candy
Hammonds
Robin Chocolates