'Buy Michigan!' becomes rally cry

Bring it on home, baby! And if possible, make sure it's homemade, homegrown or assembled nearby.

That's the new mantra heard in certain circles, and it's getting louder as people and organizations across Michigan are targeting efforts to raise awareness of the impact of buying local.

Companies and retailers like Kroger and Meijer have been touting locally produced products including Faygo, Better Made, Kowalski meats and Eden Foods.

"If each customer in Michigan were to spend an additional $20 a week on Michigan-made products, we could work our way out of this," said Jim Hiller of Hiller's Market, a specialty grocery chain with seven stores that has been holding food fairs featuring Michigan-made products.

For Hiller, the epiphany came in November amid the credit meltdown.

He watched longtime customers suddenly out of jobs and starting up firms.

He wanted to support them and came up with the idea of the local food fairs.

"I was born in Michigan, went to school in Michigan, both of my parents are buried in Michigan. I have three sons -- one goes to medical school at U-M, the other is a graduate of U-M and the third is coming back from California in June to join me in the business," Hiller said.

He plans to continue holding the food fairs about once a month.

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