Avoid Getting Hoodwinked When Buying Locally

The other day I was at a roadside stand on the way back from the beach and I saw the most upsetting sight. Wondering how in the world mangoes were suddenly grown in the Low Country of South Carolina, I took a closer look only to see a sticker marked product of Mexico on it. The produce stand was just buying produce from a local importer and then selling it on the side of the road as if they'd grown it themselves. In no way do I mean to convey that this happens all the time, because it doesn't, but it's just another ploy to be aware of when you're shopping. Recently, I read over at Huffington Post about how faux localization was the new green washing and I thought what a perfect opportunity to pull together some helpful tips for not getting scammed when you're trying to support local producers and businesses.