s/o curious--where DO you shop?

[makemineadouble]

Are there any companies/businesses you go out of your way to shop at/buy from because of their political, social, or environmental practices or affiliations?

[NitaX]

I prefer to buy my produce local. I also dine at a bunch of local restaurants and shop local jewelry boutiques. Whenever I go on vacation, I always try to eat at local restaurants.

[bluestreet]

I try to shop local (e.g., the local health food co-op instead of WF), even though I feel like it's a lost cause. Somewhere I heard Ikea was a great model of an ethical corporation, so I feel okay going there.

It seems like either I'm feeling guilty for spending way over budget shopping at a local vendor, or I'm feeling guilty for buying cheap plastic shit from Target made by child labor that will eventually end up swirling in one of the ocean's plastic garbage gyres.

Ho hum. I'm no help.

[emilyj]

I get almost all of our meat and all of our eggs at my university's meat lab - supports the university and local farmers. When the university runs fish sales, I try to take advantage of those as well (hooray for an ag-based school!)

I buy a fruit/veggie basket weekly from a local market that gets all their produce from local growers.

I avoid chain restaurants like the plague and go local.

Basically, I try to support as much local business as I can.

[statlerwaldorf]

Farmers market, certain local farms, Kroger (offering affordable health insurance with great coverage to their FT and PT employees), and other local businesses. I try to go out of my way to buy from businesses that have supported my community organization. I don't have that many choices since I live in a rural area.

[heightsyankee]

I also try to buy local. There is a shop in my neighborhood that sells all responsibly manufactured and/or upcycled clothes. Sadly, a lot of their stuff is too small for me right now but I buy what I can. I always chose the local option when I can and if it's not available, I have to let myself be ok with that...

Honestly, I think it's virtually impossible to be completely out of the system, esp with kids...

[msmerymac]

Jun 25, 2012 21:37:41 GMT -5 NitaX said:

I prefer to buy my produce local. I also dine at a bunch of local restaurants and shop local jewelry boutiques. Whenever I go on vacation, I always try to eat at local restaurants.

This, totally. Last year my husband found a local bazaar a few weeks before Christmas where we did most of our Christmas shopping from local vendors - jewelry, purses, pet supplies.

I also <3 my year round farmer's market!

[overture]

Trader Joe's, because they only buy tomatoes from workers protected by CIW working conditions.

I try to support our local co-op as much as possible, too.

[llama]

JC Penny

Definitely lots of local options, unless they were Prop 8 supporters. I also work for the LGBT community center, so I know which local businesses support our center with donations/volunteers/sponsorships/grants and I try to pay it back to them in kind with my business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

[llama]

As of 5 about seconds ago I am also going to put extra $ toward Oreos, since I just saw that they posted something Pride-related and pro-LGBT on their facebook page (to promote their involvement in Pride festivals) and apparently it's started quite the fuss.

[heightsyankee]

Jun 25, 2012 22:16:26 GMT -5 overture said:

Trader Joe's, because they only buy tomatoes from workers protected by CIW working conditions.

Yeah but they totally had to be bullied in to it. It wasn't like it was their idea. They actually fought against it until the pressure got too much and then the relented.

[msmerymac]

Jun 25, 2012 22:30:18 GMT -5 heightsyankee said:

Jun 25, 2012 22:16:26 GMT -5 overture said:

Trader Joe's, because they only buy tomatoes from workers protected by CIW working conditions.

Yeah but they totally had to be bullied in to it. It wasn't like it was their idea. They actually fought against it until the pressure got too much and then the relented.

They do go out of their way to offer organics, no preservatives, and no HFCS, though.

[Deleted]

JCP for sure, and Mango did a line for them that's pretty cute right now.

I also always try to choose service providers who are locally owned as well. Our pest control company is awesome, the owner is the one who does our service and he's so great. Really glad I picked them over Terminex.

[JLN]

I try to go to the little hardware store instead of Home Depot, and the independent baby stores instead of BRU. But I can't quit Target, so most of our shopping is done there.

And I buy almost all of our clothes and furniture/household decor at Goodwill or Craigslist, so I think I'm doing good by not buying new.

[2vermont]

Same answer.