Shop Local Acadiana is now accepting new members, and we'd love to have you!  Just take a few minutes to complete the online request form or us call at (337) 371-9758, so we can get your business included.

Just take a look at everything's that's planned for our new members:

• Listing/Web Page on www.shoplocalacadiana.com
• Online Coupon Feature on www.shoplocalacadiana.com
• iPhone App Listing & Mapping
• Mobile Coupon Feature on iPhone App
• Certified Locally Owned Member Yard Sign
• Certified Locally Owned Window Cling
• “Shop Local” Campaign Kit
• Inclusion in Member Tutorials, Gatherings or Press Opportunities
• Facebook & Twitter Mentions, Reposts & Retweets
• The Official Shop Local Guidebook (coupon or standard ad)
• Participation in the SLA gift card program
• Featured logo in the Shop Local Acadiana Digital Billboard Campaign
• Additional benefits from our extensive cause and brand marketing efforts which include an assortment of print, radio, television, billboard, special events and more

When you are out and about, look for the Certified Locally Owned seal and rest assured that these businesses are committed to keeping our community moving. In fact, 3X more of your money stays right here in Acadiana when you shop, dine and support these local independent establishments.

For the fourth year in a row, a national survey of independent businesses has found that those in communities with an active "buy local" campaign have experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to those located in areas without such a campaign.

Read more about it at www.newrules.org/retail/news/survey-finds-buy-local-message-benefitting-independent-businesses.

Download the full report at www.newrules.org/sites/newrules.org/files/2011-ind-business-survey.pdf.

Want to support your favorite locally owned business?  Tell them what you think by writing a review.  Find your favorite business in our directory, scroll down to the Review section, and give your feedback.

Are you ready to support the cause?  To show your support for Acadiana and the other independent local businesses in our community? To get your business listed on this site, on our iPhone app, billboards, print materials and more? To be promoted as a Certified Locally Owned Business?

Shop Local Acadiana encourages like-minded business owners to work together for the greater good of our local economy and our towns. We are currently accepting members for our next campaign until August 15th.

In addition to special discounts at Shop Local Acadiana’s member businesses, local business owners will be out bright and early Friday morning serving free coffee and lemonade to the public at Johnston Street Java, next to The Grand movie theatre.

Shop Local Acadiana will also be on hand giving away free “geaux local” tote bags full of goodies and discounts from their members.

The organization’s “Free Coffee Friday!” event will take place from 7am to 9am this Friday, July 22nd. Everyone is encouraged to come out and support their local business owners while enjoying complimentary coffee and lemonade.

By Jeremy Boykin, The Crawfish Guy

Crawfish Season will soon be in full swing here in South Louisiana. Even though we've had a mild winter so far, the Crawfish supply is still a little low which is keeping the boiled prices around $4.50 per pound on average. The season has been off to a slow start due to the lack of rain back in the summer months which had an adverse affect on the preparation of the the rice fields which are the breeding grounds for Crawfish.

 

On a brighter note, it's looking like it's going to be a good month for farming so the Crawfish prices should be decreasing from here on out assuming we don't have a long stretch of cold weather that lingers around. We've been getting a decent amount of rain and the farmers are all gearing up to haul in a fresh crop of Crawfish this season. Louisiana on average produces anywhere from 80-110 million pounds of Crawfish on an annual basis.

This supply has been consistent over the past few decades but what has changed dramatically in the past few years is the amount of Crawfish that are being exported out to neighboring States. Texas has become a huge market for Crawfish, including boiled, live and tailmeat. Something else that has affected the market in the previous few years is the amount of imported crawfish tailmeat that has been allowed into the United States from China. These Crawfish are much more inferior than our native Crawfish hear in Louisiana and the process of farming, peeling and packaging this meat isn't regulated as it is here in the USA. Always support local businesses and buy only Louisiana Crawfish.

If you're looking to find local Louisiana Crawfish, there is now an "app" for that. The Crawfish Guy is an iPhone App and Web Based application that displays information on the availability and pricing of Louisiana Crawfish. This application is meant to serve the public give them the most accurate and detailed information available on the web for Louisiana's best known resource, Crawfish.

Anyone visiting the website or iPhone app will be able to find Crawfish in many various ways including by zip code, radius, availability, size, and price. There are three main options when searching for Crawfish on The Crawfish Guy; Boiled, Live and Packaged Tailmeat. The website and app will increase the visibility of restaurants and retailers who sell and market Louisiana Crawfish. It also creates a very affordable marketing option for local businesses to take advantage of when trying to reach consumers. Ultimately, the website and app gives the consumer more options to satisfy their needs of eating Louisiana's most vital resource; The Crawfish.

If you're interested in finding out more about this website or iPhone app, visit them on the web at http://www.thecrawfishguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Laisse les bon temps rouler!!!